Supportive Relationships for Youth
Figure: The percentage of youth who have caring and supportive relationships at home, school, community and with peers, 2021.
Data Source: 2021 NM Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS)
How is New Mexico Doing?
Among youth in NM, most youth found supportive relationships with family or with peers. Over 3/4 of high school students, and almost 90% of middle school students also found supportive relationships within a school. These indicators from the 2021 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS) were generated from a number of survey questions from each of these domains. Students were considered to have these relationships if they indicated that the following statements were “Very much true” or “Pretty much true”.
Family
- When I am not at home, one of myparents/guardians knows where I am and who I am with.
- In my home, a parent or some other adult is interested in my school work.
- In my home, parent or some other adult believes that I will be a success.
School
- At my school, there is a teacher or some other adult who listens to me when I have something to say.
- At my school, there is a teacher or some other adult who believes that I will be a success.
- In my school, there are clear rules about what students can and cannot do.
- At school I am involved in sports, clubs, or other extra-curricular activities (such as band, cheerleading, or student council).
Community
- At my school, there is a teacher or some other adult who believes that I will be a success.
- Outside of my home and school, there is an adult who really cares about me.
- Outside of my home and school, there is an adult who tells me when I do a good job
Peers
- I plan to go to college or some other school after high school.
- Outside of my home and school, I am involved in music, art, literature, sports, or a hobby.
There is no national comparison data for these data.
What does this mean?
Youth who have a high level of support from a caring and responsible adult in the home, in the school, or in the community, and those who have a caring relationship with a friend their own age, are less likely to engage in high risk behaviors than youth who do not have these strong relationships with adults or peers. Some of these high-risk behaviors are smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or binge drinking, and using drugs like cocaine, heroin, or marijuana. These positive relationships are also associated with lower rates of risky sexual behaviors and increased physical activity. For most risk behaviors, protective factors in the home have a stronger protective effect than protective relationships in the school, community, or with peers.