Adolescent Connectedness and Adult Health Outcomes
Monday, June 24, 2019
CDC findings published today in Pediatrics suggest that helping young people feel engaged and cared for at home and at school (also called “connectedness”) may have substantial health benefits that last well beyond their teenage years.
Family and school connectedness as a teen was associated with reduced adverse health outcomes in adulthood, including:
- A 65% reduction in prescription drug misuse and other illicit drug use
- A 54% reduction in ever having been diagnosed with an STD
- A 51% reduction in likelihood of having been the victim of physical violence in the last 12 months
The CDC study, which followed the same individuals from middle and high school into their 20s and 30s, suggests that experiences in adolescence could be contributing to some of our most urgent public health crises, including all-time highs of sexually transmitted diseases, and increases in drug overdoses and suicides.
For more information, please see the press release.
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