NCJ Number
114542
Date Published
1988
Length
135 pages
Annotation
This volume presents and discusses statistics indicating trends in the welfare of youth in the United States from 1950 to 1985 with respect to family characteristics, family income, education, employment and finances, health, behavior, and attitudes.
Abstract
Data on demographics provide basic information about the number of young people and the types of households in which they live. Financial data show family finances, public and private economic support, and some of the costs associated with raising and educating young people. The educational statistics provide measures on school enrollment, school completion, dropouts, reading proficiency, writing performance, math achievement, international math comparisons, the literacy of young adults, scores on college entrance examinations, and the time spent doing homework and watching television. Charts on youth employment show employment patterns, earnings and spending habits of high school students and young adults. The health statistics cover physical fitness, illness, pregnancies, abortions, births, alcohol and other drug use, deaths, and causes of death. Additional charts show voting percentages, membership in youth groups, involvement in religious institutions, crime victimization, arrest experience, school behavior, attitudes compared to parents' views, and values. Figures, tables, glossary, index, and list of 18 sources.