Which statement correctly describes homicide in adolescents?

Which statement correctly describes homicide in adolescents?

• A. It is the second overall cause of death in boys aged 15 to 19 years
• B. It is the leading cause of death in all adolescents
• C. It is the third leading cause of death in boys aged 10 to 14
• D. It is not among the top five causes of death in adolescents

Answer: (A)

Homicide is a major contributor to mortality in adolescence, especially among older teen boys. In the 15- to 19-year-old group, unintentional injuries are typically the leading cause of death, with homicide ranking as the second leading cause overall. This reflects how violence exposure, firearms access, and neighborhood risk patterns disproportionately affect male adolescents in this age range. So the statement that homicide is the second overall cause of death in boys aged 15 to 19 years aligns with established epidemiologic data. The other options overstate or misstate the ranking for different ages (homicide is not the leading cause for all adolescents, and it is not typically a top-three cause for 10- to 14-year-olds, while it remains a top concern for older teens).

Homicide is a major contributor to mortality in adolescence, especially among older teen boys. In the 15- to 19-year-old group, unintentional injuries are typically the leading cause of death, with homicide ranking as the second leading cause overall. This reflects how violence exposure, firearms access, and neighborhood risk patterns disproportionately affect male adolescents in this age range. So the statement that homicide is the second overall cause of death in boys aged 15 to 19 years aligns with established epidemiologic data. The other options overstate or misstate the ranking for different ages (homicide is not the leading cause for all adolescents, and it is not typically a top-three cause for 10- to 14-year-olds, while it remains a top concern for older teens).