The Youth Risk Behaviour Survey, also known as the YRBS, is a biennial survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. The survey targets high school students across the country to collect data on several risk behaviours such as tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, sexual behaviour, violence, and suicide. The survey is structured to collect data at the national, state and local levels, with the aim of supporting public health efforts to prevent and reduce these behaviours.
Background
The Youth Risk Behaviour Survey has been conducted since 1990, with the first national survey being undertaken in 1991. Initially, the survey was conducted in only a few states, but due to its success, it was eventually implemented nationally. The survey has been conducted every two years since its inception, with the exception of 2020 when it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey is administered to high school students in grades 9-12, and participants are asked to complete an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire during a regular class period.
Methodology
The YRBS consists of a paper-based questionnaire survey that assesses a range of health-risk behaviours, protective factors, and related factors. The survey is anonymous and confidential, with participants asked to self-report their behaviours and experiences. The questionnaire comprises of several sections, including demographics, substance abuse, sexual behaviour, violence, and injury. The questionnaire is available in both English and Spanish and has been translated into other languages to cater to non-English speaking students.
The survey is designed to generate reliable data at national, state and local levels. To achieve this, the CDC uses a multistage methodology to sample high schools in the United States. First, a list of all the public and private high schools in the country is obtained. Second, schools are randomly selected from the list, with probability proportional to their enrolment size. Finally, classes from grades 9 -12 are chosen randomly from each selected school.
Results
The YRBS has produced a vast amount of data on adolescent health behaviours in the United States, making it a valuable source of information for public health officials and researchers. Over the years, the survey has revealed several trends in health-risk behaviours among teenagers, including:
Cigarette smoking: In the 1990s, cigarette smoking was prevalent among high school students, with 36.4% of students reporting smoking cigarettes one or more days in the 30 days before completing the survey. However, by 2019, this figure had reduced to 5.8%.
Alcohol and drug use: Alcohol and drug use continue to be a significant health risk behaviour among high school students. According to the 2019 survey, 29.8% of students reported having had at least one drink of alcohol in the 30 days before the survey. Additionally, 14.0% of students reported using marijuana, and 2.5% reported using heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine.
Sexual behaviour: The survey also assesses sexual behaviour among high school students, including contraception use and engagement in risky sexual behaviour. In 2019, 39.5% of students reported that they were sexually active. Of those sexually active students, 57.5% reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter, and 11.5% reported using birth control pills.
Violence: The YRBS also investigates the prevalence of violent behaviour among high school students, including physical fights and carrying weapons. In 2019, 19.0% of students reported being in a physical fight in the 12 months before the survey. Additionally, 4.5% of students reported carrying a weapon, such as a gun, knife or club on one or more days in the 30 days before the survey.
Suicide: The YRBS also includes a section on suicide risk and behaviours. According to the 2019 survey, 17.2% of students reported seriously considering suicide in the 12 months before the survey.
Policy Implications
The data collected from the YRBS is invaluable in guiding public health policies, interventions and prevention strategies aimed at reducing health-risk behaviours among young people. The survey provides crucial information on the prevalence, patterns and trends of these behaviours, which is used to inform research, policy development and program planning. With survey results indicating that certain health-risk behaviours remain prevalent among teenagers, the CDC continues to work with state and local partners to implement strategies aimed at curbing these behaviours.
Conclusion
The Youth Risk Behaviour Survey is a critical tool for monitoring and understanding health-risk behaviours among adolescents in the United States. The survey provides a broad range of data, which is used to inform policy development and program planning aimed at reducing these behaviours. The survey is invaluable in providing insight into the prevalence, patterns and trends of these behaviours, making it an essential resource for public health officials, researchers and policymakers. The biennial nature of the survey allows for trends in health-risk behaviours to be tracked over time, highlighting areas where prevention and intervention strategies need to be strengthened.
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