Understanding

Youth Violence

Fact Sheet 2010

www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention

Why is youth violence a 

public health problem?

How does youth violence 

affect health?

Who is at risk for youth 

violence?

Youth violence refers to harmful behaviors that can 

start early and continue into young adulthood. The 

young person can be a victim, an offender, or a witness 

to the violence.

Youth violence includes various behaviors. Some violent 

acts—such as bullying, slapping, or hitting—can cause 

more emotional harm than physical harm. Others, such 

as robbery and assault (with or without weapons) can 

lead to serious injury or even death.

Youth violence is widespread in the United States (U.S.). 

It is the second leading cause of death for young people 

between the ages of 10 and 24.1

•	 5,764 young people age 10 to 24 were murdered—an 

average of 16 each day—in 2007.1

• Over 656,000 physical assault injuries in young people 

age 10 to 24 were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 

2008.1

•	In a 2009 nationwide survey, about 32% of high 

school students reported being in a physical fight in

the 12 months before the survey.2

• Nearly 6% of high school students in 2009 reported 

taking a gun, knife, or club to school in the 30 days 

before the survey.2

• An estimated 20% of high school students reported 

being bullied on school property in 2009.2

Deaths resulting from youth violence are only part of 

the problem. Many young people seek medical care 

for violence-related injuries. These injuries can include 

cuts, bruises, broken bones, and gunshot wounds. 

Some injuries, like gunshot wounds, can lead to lasting 

disabilities.

Violence can also affect the health of communities. It 

can increase health care costs, decrease property values, 

and disrupt social services.3 

A number of factors can increase the risk of a youth 

engaging in violence. However, the presence of these 

factors does not always mean that a young person will 

become an offender. 

Risk factors for youth violence include:

• Prior history of violence

• Drug, alcohol, or tobacco use

• Association with delinquent peers

• Poor family functioning

• Poor grades in school

• Poverty in the community

Note: This is a partial list of risk factors. For more information, 

see www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention.
How can we prevent 

youth violence?

How does CDC approach 

youth violence prevention?

Where can I learn more?

Understanding Youth Violence

For more information, please contact:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

1-800-CDC-INFO • www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention • cdcinfo@cdc.gov 

The ultimate goal is to stop youth violence before it 

starts. Several prevention strategies have been identified.

• Parent- and family-based programs improve 

family relations. Parents receive training on child 

development. They also learn skills for talking with 

their kids and solving problems in nonviolent ways.

• Social-development strategies teach children how to 

handle tough social situations. They learn how to 

resolve problems without using violence.

• Mentoring programs pair an adult with a young 

person. The adult serves as a positive role model and 

helps guide the young person’s behavior.

• Changes can be made to the physical and social 

environment. These changes address the social and 

economic causes of violence.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention

STRYVE

www.safeyouth.gov

Stop Bullying Now Campaign 

www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov

Surgeon General’s Report on Youth Violence

www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/youthviolence

CDC uses a 4-step approach to address public health 

problems like youth violence.

Step 1: Define and monitor the problem

Before we can prevent youth violence, we need to know 

how big the problem is, where it is, and whom it affects. 

CDC learns about a problem by gathering and studying 

data. These data are critical because they help decision 

makers send resources where they are needed most.

Step 2: Identify risk and protective factors

It is not enough to know that youth violence is affecting 

a certain group of people in a certain area. We also need 

to know why. CDC conducts and supports research to 

answer this question. We can then develop programs to 

reduce or get rid of risk factors.

Step 3: Develop and test prevention strategies

Using information gathered in research, CDC develops 

and tests strategies to prevent youth violence.

Step 4: Ensure widespread adoption

In this final step, CDC shares the best prevention

strategies. CDC may also provide funding or technical 

help so communities can adopt these strategies.

For a list of CDC activities, see Preventing Youth 

Violence: Program Activities Guide (www.cdc.gov/

violenceprevention/pub/preventingyv.html).

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National 

Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based 

Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) 

[online]. (2010) [cited 2010 June 14]. Available from: URL: 

www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/index.html

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk 

behavior surveillance—United States, 2009. MMWR, 

Surveillance Summaries 2009;59(no. SS-5).

3. Mercy J, Butchart A, Farrington D, Cerdá M. Youth 

violence. In: Krug E, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, 

Lozano R, editors. The World Report on Violence and 

Health. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization; 

2002. p. 25–56.