What is YRBS?

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was developed to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. These behaviors, often established during childhood and early adolescence, include:

• Tobacco use

• Unhealthy dietary behaviors

• Inadequate physical activity

• Alcohol and drug use

• Sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection

• Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence

In addition, the YRBS monitors general health status and the prevalence of obesity and asthma.

The YRBS was designed to:

• Determine the prevalence of health risk behaviors

• Assess whether health risk behaviors increase, decrease, or stay the same over time

• Examine the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors

• Provide comparable national, state, territorial, tribal, and local data

• Provide comparable data among subpopulations of youth

• Monitor progress toward achieving the Healthy People 2010 objectives and other program indicators

The YRBS is comprised of school based surveys of representative samples of 7th through 12th grade students. These surveys are conducted every two years, usually during the spring semester. School level data are conducted in classrooms by middle and high school students, via self-administered paper and pencil questionnaires. Completion of the survey is voluntary and confidential.

RESOURCES

• CDC Healthy Youth Behaviors

2009 YRBS

• 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report (zip file)

• 2001 - 2009 Decade Trend Analysis Report (pdf)

• 2009 YRBS Trend Analysis Report (pdf)

• 2009 Highlights

  • 2009 Nevada Middle School Highlights (pdf)

  • 2009 Nevada High School Highlights (pdf)

• 2009 YRBS Summary Presentation

  • 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Powerpoint (ppt)

• 2007-2009 Comparative Nevada Youth Risk Behavior Survey (pdf)

2007 YRBS

• 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report

  • Highlights of 2007 Nevada YRBS Report

    • 2007 Nevada Middle School YRBS Highlights (pdf)

    • 2007 Nevada High School YRBS Highlights (pdf)

• 2007 YRBS Comparison between Nevada Students and US Students (pdf)

• 2005-2007 Comparative Nevada Youth Risk Behavior Survey (pdf)

2005 YRBS

• 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Report

  • Nevada 2005 YRBS Report

• Highlights of 2005 Nevada YRBS Report

  • 2005 Nevada Middle School YRBS Highlights (pdf)

  • 2005 Nevada High School YRBS Highlights (pdf)

Implications for Classroom Teachers