Youth Trends in Niagara

and Considerations for our

Criminal Justice System

Social Anxiety - Elementary

The following are the 5 most frequently reported situations where elementary students felt anxious at least “sometimes” was:

• I feel that other people my age talk about me behind my back (70.4%)

• I only talk to other people my age that I know really well (68.4%)

• I worry about what other people my age think of me (68.3%)

• If I get into an argument with another person, I worry that he or she won’t like me (63.5%)

• I feel that other people my age are making fun of me (62.5)

Social Anxiety – Secondary

The following are the 5 most frequently reported situations where secondary students felt anxious at least “sometimes”

was:

I feel that other people my age talk about me behind my back (67.3%)I feel shy with people my age that I don’t know (68.4%)I feel that other people my age talk about me behind my back (62.4%)If I get into an argument with another person, I worry that he or she won’t like me (63.5%)I feel that other people my age are making fun of me (62.5%)

Time Spent with Parents - Elementary

• 32% of students reported that their parents/guardians spend some time ‘almost everyday’ just talking with them.

• 64% of students also reported that their family does something fun together at least ‘a few times a week’.

Time Spent with Parents - Secondary

• 30.4% of secondary students reported that their parents/guardians spent time ‘almost everyday’ just talking with them.

• 21.7% of the students also reported that their families do something fun together ‘a few times a week’

Secondary Students Perceptions of Criminal Activity

The following represent the percentage of students who thought that the following activities were “at least a little bit wrong”

• To break something that belongs to another person just to get even (95%)

• To break into a place that is locked just to look around (97.4%)

• To damage public or private property that does not belong to you just for fun (97.3%)

• To threaten a teacher because you were angry about something at school (98.3%)

Secondary Students Time Spent Thinking about Risk Behaviours

The following are the percent of male and female secondary students who respond with “often” to

thinking about risky behaviours.

Activity Male Female

Carrying a gun as a weapon 3.9% 0.7%

Carrying a knife as a weapon 4.7% 1.2%

Wrecking other’s property 4.2% 0.8%

Joining a gang 3.8% 1.1%

Family Living Situation - Elementary

61.2%

9.5% 2.3%2.7%

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Family Living Situation - Secondary

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