Teen Perspectives
Hear directly from teens
National 4‑H Council conducted in-depth surveys to capture insights about what young people are thinking, saying and doing about issues, attitudes and trends that are shaping them today and tomorrow. These results help us keep a finger on the pulse of teen perspectives and inform the work we do.
Teen environmental impact survey
Working together with The Harris Poll, National 4‑H Council wanted to better understand how teens feel about the environment. Nationally, we surveyed a diverse group of 1,500 teens from 13-19 years old exploring their concerns about — and commitment to — protecting the environment. Our goal was to represent their unique voice and create a conversation about their evolving relationship with the outdoor world.
4‑H teens & racial injustice survey
New Survey Finds That 83 Percent of Teens Acknowledge That Systemic Racism is an Issue and They Want to be Included in the National Conversation Around Social Justice
National 4‑H Council commissioned a survey to gain a deeper understanding of teens perspectives on racism and their opinions on the current protests and social justice movement. The survey was conducted online from July 2 to July 9, 2020 with 1,000 respondents ages 13-19.
Key findings
- 83% of teens acknowledge systemic racism is an issue in the U.S., causing them to feel angry, overwhelmed and stressed.
- Black and Hispanic teens are much more likely to have experienced mistreatment because of their race, with Blacks being especially likely to fear for their safety.
- Teens are rallying around the issue, with 86% saying they are “proud that people are taking a stand protecting against racism” and two-thirds saying they “need people to hear their voice about racism.” This is particularly true for Black (82%) and Hispanic (76%) teens who are looking to be heard.
- 3 in 4 teens have taken action against racism, either via conversation or demonstration.
- Teens are calling for racism education in school and government reform to create more equal access as avenues for long-term change.
- 82% of teens acknowledge “there is still so much work to be done in the fight against racism, this is just the start.”
- 70% of teens (81% Black) feel encouraged that the current movement and protests will lead to less racism in the U.S.
4‑H youth mental health survey
National 4‑H Council commissioned a survey to explore teens’ perceptions and experiences around mental health. The survey, which polled over 1,500 diverse youth ages 13-19 nationwide, explored the role of resilience in mental health along with gathering youth perspectives on the state of mental health issues in their community and the nation.
Key findings
- 81% of teens say mental health is a significant issue for young people in the U.S., and 64% of teens believe that the experience of COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on their generation’s mental health.
- In this stressful climate, 7 in 10 teens have experienced struggles with mental health.
- 55% of teens say they’ve experienced anxiety, 45% excessive stress, and 43% depression.
4‑H youth healthy habits survey
A survey commissioned by National 4‑H Council explores teen perceptions around health and nutrition. The survey, which polled over 1,500 diverse youth between the ages of 13-19 nationwide, investigated youth perceptions on the topics of food access, nutrition and health equity.
Key findings
- 68 percent of teens say they satisfy their hunger with junk food because it’s more accessible to them at school than healthy food.
- Most teens (66%) are spending more time deciding what they want to watch on Netflix and YouTube than thinking about what they eat.
- 85 percent say junk food is more accessible and cost effective, which usually drives decision making for their families and friends.
Digital Impact Survey 2021
4‑H & Microsoft digital impact survey
National 4‑H Council and Microsoft teamed up to explore digital access among teens through a national survey. The survey, which polled over 1,500 youth between the ages of 13-19 nationwide, investigated how lack of broadband internet access affects their social mobility and economic opportunities.
Key findings
- 1 in 4 American teens have Broadband connections that are unreliable
- Nearly half of teens report struggling to complete homework due to slow internet connections.
- 79% of teens with broadband access expect to have a higher income than their parents, while only 66% of teens without broadband access felt this way.
