Many Teens Expect To Die Young
One in seven teens believe they will die an early death, which leads them to take part in unhealthy and risky behaviors, researchers reported on Monday.
Writing in the journal Pediatrics, Dr. Iris Borowsky of the University of Minnesota Medical School, and colleagues studied data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which involves more than 20,000 teens from grades 7 through 12.
They found that almost 15 percent of adolescents believed they had a 50/50 chance at best of living to see their 35th birthday.
Additionally, researchers found a higher likelihood of risky behaviors such as illicit drug use, suicide attempts, fighting, or unsafe sexual activity among adolescents who believed they would live a shorter life.
Researchers also found that these teens were “significantly more likely” to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS within six years of the study, regardless of sexual preference.
"While conventional wisdom says that teens engage in risky behaviors because they feel invulnerable to harm, this study suggests that in some cases, teens take risks because they overestimate their vulnerability, specifically their risk of dying," Borowsky said.
"These youth may take risks because they feel hopeless and figure that not much is at stake."
The study also found that almost 25 percent of teens in homes that receive public assistance and more than 29 percent of American-Indian, 26 percent of African-American, 21 percent of Hispanic, and 15 percent of Asian adolescents admitted to believing they would live a short life.
“Our findings reinforce the importance of instilling a sense of hope and optimism in youth," Borowsky said. "Strong connections with parents, families, and schools, as well as positive media messages, are likely important factors in developing an optimistic outlook for young people."
Researchers said they found no link between the risk of dying before age 35 and the expectation of death from any cause.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
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