Outcome Area 4: Children and youth are healthy.
Physically healthy youth are more likely to be able to sustain their good health into adulthood. There are multiple domains and indicators of physical health. But they are all interrelated, not just with each other, but with overall healthy youth development. In this outcome area, we focus on four key indicators of physical health:
Body-mass index (BMI) is an indicator of obesity, which is related to multiple negative health outcomes, including heart disease, injury, and cancer. Recent research highlights early childhood obesity as a leading indicator of adult obesity and related problems.
Childhood mortality rates due to illness highlight the extent to which many child deaths are due to causes that may be preventable or controllable.
Teen pregnancy is associated with other poor outcomes for the mother and the baby.
Asthma rates are a key indicator because of the prevalence of asthma; the extent to which it can be managed with appropriate, accessible care; and the impacts it has on children’s lives through missed school and other opportunities.
Oral health is also related to many other domains of health and youth development; an oral health indicator is in development.
When young people are not healthy, they are at greater risk for poor outcomes in other areas, such as academic and social domains. They are more likely to miss school, not be able to participate in sports and other social activities, and need to rely on public support systems.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Behaviorally healthy youth are more than free from mental health and substance use disorders. They are resilient in the face of challenges, and possess the social, emotional, and coping skills necessary to thrive. They are able to regulate their behavior and practice healthy habits that support overall well-being and health. As with physical health, there are many domains of social, emotional, and behavioral health. In this outcome area, we focus on six key indicators:
Protective factors, or assets, are key components of resilience, and our Youth Survey data shows that youth with three or more assets are at substantially reduced risk for a large number of negative outcomes.
Student suspensions are an indicator of the prevalence and the seriousness of behavioral problems.
High levels of stress and the presence of depressive symptoms are both key risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behavior and indicators of potential mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Suicidal ideation (having considered suicide) is an important indicator of the level of serious mental illness among youth.
The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on their own can lead to a number of problems, and is especially dangerous when combined with mental illness.
Behavioral health problems are linked to poor outcomes in the areas of physical health, academic success, and workforce readiness. As they are often preventable and treatable, awareness and prevention efforts are incredibly important.