# Presentation: 187355

## Slide 1

## Purposes of the YRBSS

- Focus the nation on behaviors among youth causing the most important health problems
**Violence**
**Alcohol and other drug use**
- Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries
- Sexual behaviors
- Tobacco use
- Unhealthy dietary behaviors
- Inadequate physical activity
- Assess how risk behaviors change over time
- Provide comparable data for the Nation, states, and large urban school districts

**Notes:**
The purposes of the YRBSS are threefold:
To focus the nation on behaviors among youth causing the most important health problems;
To assess how risk behaviors change over time; and
To provide comparable data.

## Characteristics of the National, State, and Local School-Based YRBS

- 9th – 12th grade students
- Probability samples of schools and students
- Anonymous
- Self-administered, computer-scannable questionnaire or answer sheet
- Completed in one class period (45 minutes)
- Conducted biennially usually during the spring

**Notes:**
The national, state, and local Youth Risk Behavior Surveys are administered to 9th through 12th grade students drawn from probability samples of schools and students.  The questionnaire is anonymous and self-administered.  The questionnaire booklet or answer sheet is computer-scannable.  The surveys are completed in one 45-minute class period, and are conducted biennially usually during the spring.

## 2005 National YRBS

- National probability sample of public and private schools
- Total sample size = **13,917**
- School-level response rate = **78%**
- Student-level response rate = **86%**
- Overall response rate = **67%**

**Notes:**
The 2005 National YRBS survey was administered to a national probability sample of public and private schools.  The sample size is 13,917 students.  The school-level response rate is 78% and the student-level response rate is 86%.  The school response rate multiplied by the students response rate produces an overall response rate of 67%.

## State and Local YRBS Participation1991 – 2005

**State and Local YRBS Participation****1991 – 2005**

|  | 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Number of states          (excluding DC) | 26 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 41 | 37 | 43 | 44 |
| Number of territories | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Number of cities  (including DC) | 11 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 23 |
| Total number of sites | 38 | 56 | 61 | 60 | 62 | 63 | 70 | 71 |
| Number and percent of  weighted sites | N=17
45% | N=33
59% | N=37
61% | N=43
72%
 | N=38
61% | N=38
60% | N=56
80% | N=64
90% |

**Notes:**
This table reflects state and local participation in the YRBS for the years 1991 through 2005.  Since its inception in 1991, participation has grown from 26 states to 44 states in 2005.  In the same time frame, the number of territories participating has increased from 2 in 1991 to 4 in 2005, and the number of cities from 11 to 23.  The total number of state and local sites participating in the 2005 YRBS was 71.  Of these sites, 90% were able to return weighted data.

## Policy and Program Applications 

- Describe risk behaviors
- Create awareness
- Set program goals
- Develop programs and policies
- Support health-related legislation
- Seek funding

**Notes:**
YRBS data are used at the national, state, and local levels in a variety of policy and program applications.  YRBS data can be used to do the following:
Describe risk behaviors;
Create awareness;
Set program goals;
Develop programs and policies;
Support health-related legislation; and
Seek funding.

## YRBS Measures Related to Violence

- *Carried a weapon; carried a gun
- In a physical fight; injured in a physical fight
- ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
- *Carried a weapon
- *In a physical fight
- *Threatened or injured with a weapon
- Had property stolen or damaged
- Did not go to school because of safety concerns
- Dating violence; forced to have sexual intercourse

## YRBS Measures Related to Suicide

- Seriously considered suicide
- Made a suicide plan
- Attempted suicide
- Suicide attempt treated by a doctor or nurse

## YRBS Measures Related to Alcohol and Other Drug Use (1)

- Lifetime and current use of
- *Alcohol
- *Marijuana
- Cocaine

- Lifetime use of:
- Illegal injection drugs
- Inhalants
- Illegal steroids
- Hallucinogens
- Heroin
- Methamphetamine
- Ecstasy

## YRBS Measures Related to Alcohol and Other Drug Use (2)

- Episodic heavy drinking
- ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
- *Drank alcohol
- *Used marijuana
- *Offered, sold, or given an illegal drug
- BEFORE AGE 13
- Drank alcohol
- Tried marijuana

## Sample Optional Measures Related to Violence and Drug Use

- ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
- Carried a gun
- Harassed or bullied
- Hit, punched, or kicked
- Cut or burn yourself on purpose
- Threatened or injured as a result of gang activity
- Use of painkillers, prescription drugs w/o doctor’s prescription, over-the-counter drugs to get high
- Attended school under influence of alcohol or other illegal drugs

## Sample Optional Measures Relatedto Protective Factors

- How often do parents:
- Talk to you about what you are doing at school?
- Ask where you are going or with whom you will be?
- Do you eat meals with family?
- Is there a teacher or other adult in school you can talk to?
- Do you feel safe and secure at school?
- Do you feel like you belong at this school?
- Is harassment and bullying a problem at school?

## Percentage of High School Students Who Were in a Physical Fight on School Property,* by Sex** and Race/Ethnicity,*** 2005

**One or more times during the 12 months preceding the survey; ** M > F; *** B, H > W*
*Source: CDC, National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2005*

**Notes:**
Nationwide in 2005, 13.6% of high school students had been in a physical fight on school property one or more times during the 12 months preceding the survey.  Overall, the prevalence of having been in a physical fight on school property was higher among male than female students, and higher among black and Hispanic than white students.

## Percentage of High School Students Who Were ina Physical Fight on School Property,* 1993 – 2005

** One or more times during the 12 months preceding the survey; **1 **Significant linear decrease and quadratic change, P < .05*
*Source: CDC, National Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, 1993 – 2005*

**Notes:**
This slide shows the percentage of high school students who had been in a physical fight on school property one or more times during the 12 months preceding the survey.  During 1993 to 2005, a significant linear decrease and a significant quadratic change were identified.

## Range and Median Percentage of High School Students Who Were in a Physical Fight on School Property,* Across 40 States and 21 Cities, 2005

**One or more times during the 12 months preceding the survey*
*Source: State and Local Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, 2005*

**Notes:**
This slide shows the range and median percentage of high school students across 40 states and 21 cities in 2005 who had been in a physical fight on school property one or more times during the 12 months preceding the survey.  Prevalence ranged from 8.4% to 15.6% (median: 11.4%) across state surveys and from 10.4% to 22.0% (median: 14.7%) across local surveys.

## Percentage of High School Students Who Were Offered, Sold, or Given an Illegal Drug by Someone on School Property,* by Selected States

**During the 12 months preceding the survey*
*Source: State Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, 2005*

## Percentage of High School Students Who DidNot Go to School Because of Safety Concerns,* by Selected Large Urban School Districts

**On *_*>*_*1 of the 30 days preceding the survey*
*Source: Local Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, 2005*

## Sample YRBS Articles Related to Violence and Substance Use

- Violence-related behaviors among high school students—United States, 1991-2003
- Substance use on school property among students attending alternative high schools in the United States
- Effect of the incident at Columbine on students’ violence- and suicide-related behaviors
- Sexual activity and substance use among adolescents by category of physical activity plus team sports participation

## Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Components

- National, state and local school-based YRBS
- National household-based YRBS
- National college YRBS
- National alternative high school YRBS
- Steps YRBS
- Special population YRBS
- Psychometric studies

## Slide 20

## School Health Profiles

- www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/profiles

## School Health Profiles - Methods

- Conducted by state and local education and health agencies
- Conducted biennially during the spring
- Systematic equal-probability sample of secondary schools
- Questionnaires mailed to principal and lead health education teacher

**Notes:**
Secondary schools only

## State and Local Participation in School Health Profiles, 1998 – 2006

**State and Local Participation in ****School Health Profiles, 1998 – 2006**

|  | 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|      Number of states     (excluding DC)  | 38 | 38 | 43 | 41 | 44 |
|      Number of cities     (including DC) | 10 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 |
|      Total number     of sites | 48 | 51 | 57 | 54 | 60 |
|      Percent of sites with     generalizable data | 
77% | 
75% | 
77% | 
70%
 | 
80% |

**Notes:**
This table reflects state and local participation in Profiles for the years 1998 through 2006.  

## School Health Profiles 2006 – Sample Topics

- Health education topics, materials, policies, and teaching methods
- Health-related staff development and professional preparation
- Education and policies related to:
- HIV prevention
- Tobacco-use prevention
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
- Policies related to physical education and nutrition service
- Asthma management activities

## Sample School Health Profiles Measures Related to Violence Prevention

- Closed campus
- Use of staff or adult volunteers to monitor hallways
- Routine bag, desk, or locker checks
- Require school uniforms, ID badges
- Use metal detectors
- Employ police or security guards during regular school day
- Implement peer mediation program

## Percentage of Secondary Schools That Provided a Full-Time Registered Nurse All Day, Every Day by Selected Large Urban School Districts, 2004

*Source: CDC, School Health Profiles, 2004*

## Percentage of Secondary Schools in Which Students Could Buy Chocolate Candy,* by Selected States, 2004

**Among schools that allowed students to purchase snack foods or beverages from vending machines or at the school store, canteen, or snack bar*
*Source: CDC, School Health Profiles, 2004*

**Notes:**
New Mexico did not have data for the 2004 School Health Profiles.  However, NM did complete the 2002 Profiles.  The prevalence of NM high school students that could purchase chocolate candy was 78.0%.

## Slide 28