Two-thirds of girls who say they smoke several cigarettes or more per week say they do so to relieve stress. The initiative of smoking in girls is associated with attaining desired self-image, feelings of maturity, independence, sexuality, health, and sociability. Alcohol use in adolescents is a strong predictor of both sexual activity and unprotected sex. Teenage girls who drink are more likely to have sex and have it without a condom than girls who do not drink alcohol. Even though the teen pregnancy rate in the United States is declining, it is still the highest rate for teen pregnancies in the industrialized world.
Adolescent girls report alarmingly high rates of thinking about suicide.
Self-confidence declines with age for girls, but not for boys. While boys are more likely to commit suicide, girls attempt suicide more often. The physical, emotional, and social benefits of physical activity are plentiful. Regular physical activity in adolescence can reduce girls' risk for obesity and help them build greater peak bone mass. 5 CASA, 1996.