Reality Check: Here’s what kids face

How is back to school going?  My clients are definitely feeling the shift in routines, and I’ve been lining up parent-ed presentations.  It’s a fun mix of mom’s groups, private events in parent’s homes, big speaking events for schools, and lunch n’ learns at parent’s work places.

 

In preparation, I’ve been diving deep into the current statistics.  I want to paint an accurate picture, based on real surveys and studies, of what’s currently happening with our kids.

 

I’m working on getting this printed up as a lovely infographic, but for now, I’d like to share with you some that surprised me:

 

Teens and Sex

• About 43% of teens ages 15 to 19 have ever had sex, and 30% of high-school students are currently sexually active (had sex in the last 3 months). (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2015)
• About 8 in 10 (83%) teens did not receive sex education before they first had sex. (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2014)
• For 15-17 year olds, 44.6% of females and 48.4% of males reported having oral sex with someone of the opposite sex. (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2011)
• Teenage girls are 30% more likely than boys to have unprotected sex the first time they have sexual intercourse. (National Survey of Family Growth, USA, 2010)
• 12% of black male high-school students had sexual intercourse before age 13. (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2015)
• Half of the new STIs reported each year occur among youth 15 to 24. (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2008)

 

Porn

• 60% of children and young people surveyed reported first seeing online pornography at home, and 34% report seeing internet pornography at least once a week. (NSPCC and Children’s Commissioner for England, 2017)
• For men who are frequent users of pornography, 43% were first exposed to pornography between the ages of 11 and 13. (University of Sydney, Australia, 2012)

 

Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse

• 8% of boys and 20% of girls are victims of child sexual abuse in the USA and Canada. In Australia: 21.5% girls, 7.5% boys.  In Europe: 13.5% girls, 5.6% boys. (Global meta study, 2011)
• Only 38% of child victims disclose the fact they have been sexually abused – so 3 out of 5 do not. (Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 2007)
• 30% of female rape victims were first raped between the ages of 11-17; 42% before age 18. (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2011)
• 19% of undergraduate women experienced attempted sexual assault since entering college. (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2009)
• Most female and male victims of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner experienced some form of intimate partner violence for the first time before 25 years of age (69% of female victims; 53% of male victims).  (Center for Disease Control, USA, 2010)

 

Sexting and Social Media

• 15% of cell-owning teens ages 12-17 say they have received sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images of someone they know via text messaging on their cell phone, and 30% of 17 year olds have received a nude or nearly nude image on their phone. (Pew Research Center, 2009)
• One in three youth feel more accepted on social media than they do in real life. 45% of youth would change their online behavior if they knew their parents were watching.  (McAffee Survey, 2009)

 

Self Harm

• National hospital data show self-harm rates are highest for 15-19 year olds (Suicide Prevention Resource Center, USA, 2007)
• The prevalence of having seriously considered attempting suicide was higher among female (23.4%) than male (12.2%) high-school students. The prevalence of having attempted suicide was higher among female (11.6%) than male (5.5%) high-school students.  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, 2015)

 

Sexual Identity

• Lesbian/Gay/Bi students in grades 9 and 12 were significantly more likely to have attempted suicide than their heterosexual peers. 52.4 percent of Lesbian/Bi females and 29.0 percent of Gay/Bi males had attempted suicide. The percentages of non-GLB females and males who had attempted suicide were 24.8 and 12.6 percent respectively. (Suicide Prevention Resource Center, USA, 2006)

 

 

If you have different (or better!) information, please send it my way!  I’ve tried hard to have accurate sources, as I loathe this whole “fake news” thing that’s been going on.

 

These statistics are a lot to take in, even for me.  I hope you’re galvanized to take action, whether it’s to have another conversation with your child or organize an event for your community.

 

If, however, you find this information overwhelming or paralyzing, it’s a sign that your needs and your child’s needs are not being met.  If you sense in your heart that your child is or will be one of these statistics, let’s get on the phone together and turn that around. Click here to schedule a FREE call with me.

 

In support of you,

 

Anya

 

P.S. The next Opening the Communication Group Program begins this November.  If you’re interested in ongoing support with parenting your child’s sexuality, where you learn key foundational skills with a community of like-minded parents, let’s chat and see if it’s a fit!

 

P.S.S. Interested in a presentation for your community?  Click here.