Many top students mistrust government and authority figures, including the President, Congress, the Supreme Court, and local law enforcement, but this mistrust has reached an all-time high. In the 1970s and 1980s, about 25 percent had confidence in Congress. In the 1990s, that figure fell to 9 percent. Although 20 percent of teens have confidence in the Supreme Court today, that number has fallen from a high in the 1970s of close to 50 percent. But despite an attitude of cynicism among top teenagers, there's some good news for parents.
Family is the one institution in which teens continue to express great confidence.
The survey asks about school life, sexual activity, social issues, study habits, drug and alcohol use, and teen suicide.