It's getting safer to be a child in the U.S.

Despite all the national headlines about school shootings and other violence, life has actually gotten a lot safer for American children, according to a new study.

Instances in which children were the victims of crimes such as assaults or violence such as bullying have declined significantly, according to the study, which appears in the most recent edition of the JAMA Pediatrics.

Researchers compared rates of 50 different types of violence and crime over time. Of those categories, 27 saw significant declines between 2003 and 2011.

Children, regardless of race or social class, are victimized at higher rates than adults, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Some children in this country also witness violence on a daily basis, which can have long-term psychological consequences.

The recession didn't reverse the trend, and that's unusual. Historically, more violence and crime occurs during economic downturns.

"We often expect stress and dislocation that happens during a recession can exacerbate conflicts and crime and violence, but it seems not to have been the case for the most part in the most recent recession," said the study's lead author David Finkelhor.

"This study confirms what we have noticed from a variety of other sources that children's safety has improved since 2003," said Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.

This was true even for children of low-income families who live in neighborhoods where violent crime rates are disproportionately high. Children of color also were safer, according to this study.

The results do mirror the larger trend that some sociologists call "the great crime decline." Rates of violence in general have decreased since the 1990s, and experts don't know exactly why.

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Finkelhor and his co-authors shared a few theories on why violence against children has declined.

One is that many public health programs specifically designed to curb violence against children work. Studies show some programs, which include anti-bullying techniques and domestic violence awareness initiatives, have had success.

Another theory is that more people are on psychiatric medicine that reduces aggressive behavior. The study showed 5.6% of children were taking psychiatric medication in 2008; by 2011, that had increased to 7.8%. More adults are also taking medication for depression and anxiety, which may also reduce family violence.

Finkelhor thinks technology may also play an unexpected role in violence reduction.

More children have cell phones, he said, which means more can call for help if they sense danger.

Social media may also play a role. "A lot of people think that the Internet made kids more vulnerable and has induced them into taking more risks. There may be some of that," Finkelhor said. It can also open kids up to an avenue of online bullying.

But with so many kids preoccupied with social media, the risk-taking behavior that comes along with adolescence may now be more in the virtual realm than in reality.

"If they are taking those risks in their bedroom, there may be a delay in their actual behavior," Finkelhor said, which can leave youths vulnerable to violence or crime.

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