What is YRBS?
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a surveillance
tool used by the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor various
health behaviors among American teens. The
Kentucky
Department of Education -Program Resources is the agency
that conducts this study within the Commonwealth of Kentucky
utilizing the skills of the
UK Center
for Prevention Research. The CDC annually urges KDE to
survey 60 high schools in Kentucky. The subsequent surveys are
returned to the CDC where they are analyzed by
Westat, a private company
contracted with the CDC. The
UK Center
for Prevention Research also does secondary analysis with
the Kentucky data.
Understanding the 2001 YRBS - Results
What is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey?
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a
survey of high school students throughout Kentucky and the
nation. The questions and methodology for conducting the survey
is developed by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Division of Adolescent and School Health.
Why is the Survey Done?
Today, the health of young people—and the
adults they will become—is critically linked to the
health-related behaviors they choose to adopt. A limited number
of behaviors contribute markedly to today’s major killers. These
behaviors, often established during youth, include:
- Tobacco use.
- Unhealthy dietary behaviors.
- Inadequate physical activity.
- Alcohol and other drug use.
- Sexual behaviors that may result in HIV
infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended
pregnancies.
- Behaviors that may result in violence and
unintentional injuries (motor vehicle crashes).
Among both children and adults, the leading
causes of death are closely linked to these behaviors. Among
adults, chronic diseases—such as cardiovascular disease, cancer,
and diabetes—are the nation’s leading killers. Practicing
healthy behaviors, such as eating low-fat,
high-fruit-and-vegetable diets, getting regular physical
activity, and refraining from tobacco use, would prevent many
premature deaths. Because health-related behaviors are usually
established in childhood, positive choices need to be promoted
before damaging behaviors are initiated or become ingrained.
- The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is designed
to measure the prevalence of these risky or unhealthy behaviors
so that states can:
- Implement or modify programs to address the
behaviors of young people in a specific area. In New York City,
YRBSS data on unintentional injuries led to the development of a
program called "Safety Makes Sense."
- Set program goals and objectives and monitor
the progress toward those goals. In Wyoming, YRBSS data helped in assessing the implementation of
health education standards.
- Create awareness of the extent of risk
behaviors among young people. In Wisconsin, YRBSS data were
published in the state’s medical journal to help educate new
physicians about adolescent health issues.
- Promote state-level changes that support
specific health education curricula and coordinated school
health programs. State legislators in Tennessee used YRBSS data
to support the Coordinated School Health Improvement Act.
- Seek funding from federal, state, and
private sources by demonstrating need. In Washington, D.C.,
YRBSS data were used to help obtain funding for a school-based
adolescent health clinic.
The Samples
The CDC has conducted the YRBS in Kentucky
since 1989 with the most recent survey done in Spring 2001. This
data for behaviors among 9th-12th graders is summarized on this
site as a guide for parents, educators, and decision makers
regarding our Commonwealth's most precious resource, our
children.
The 2001 YRBS actually consists of two
samples: one drawn for CDC to determine the behavior of Kentucky
students overall, and a second, larger sample to determine the
behavior of students within 8 regions of the state as well as
providing an overall view of Kentucky students. For the sake of
clarity – we will refer to the first, smaller sample reported by
CDC as “The CDC Sample”. The second, larger sample will be
referred to as “the Kentucky Department of Education sample” (KDE sample).
The CDC released the first, statewide
numbers in the Spring 2002. The CDC data can be found on the
website:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/info_results.htm
The numbers shown on the UK Prevention
Research Center website, however, reflect the second, regional
sample.
http://www.ukcph.org/cfpr/yrbs2001/
Both samples are randomly selected from
public high schools in Kentucky. Alternative, psychiatric,
private, and other such schools are NOT among the sampling frame
from which the two samples were selected. Thus, the numbers
reported here are for "typical" public high schools and do not
reflect private Kentucky school students or more at-risk
Kentucky students in alternative programs.
How are the Samples Chosen?
The sample of schools and students included
in the YRBS is called a two-stage cluster sample design. First,
schools are randomly selected for the study based on the size of
their enrollment. Second, classes in each school are randomly
selected. All students in the randomly selected classes are
eligible to participate in the survey. No child is required to
complete the survey.
What Type of High Schools Participated in the
Survey?
The 1997, 1999, and 2001 YRBS surveys only
"typical" Kentucky public high schools. Teens who have dropped
out of school, are in private schools, in alternative high
school programs, or adjudicated youth programs are not be
included in these numbers. This means that the most at-risk
Kentucky teens' were not surveyed. This is true in all states
administering the YRBS and in the National YRBS.
While Kentucky's sample is consistent with
similar samples of "typical" high school students in other
states for comparison purposes, readers should keep in mind that
the YRBS numbers are “better” (i.e. less risky) on many
questions because of the absence of the most at-risk teens'
responses. For the year 2004 there are plans to include a
separate survey of Alternative Schools to allow for a more
complete picture of Kentucky youth.
How Accurate is the Data?
The accuracy of the survey is dependent on
participation by an adequate number of the randomly selected
schools and classes. If the state achieves a response rate of
at least 60%, the data can be weighted to correct for any biases
in the final sample ( for example over or under-representation
of younger students or an ethnic or racial group), and the
results are considered representative for that state.
For Kentucky, 84 schools were chosen in the
school level stage of the sample. Two additional schools were
chosen for participation in order to allow for regional analysis
of the data. A random sample frame of 84 schools for the
statewide sample and 86 schools for the regional sample were
contacted to participate. Unfortunately, only 40 of the 84
schools responded from the statewide sample (40 out of 84
schools) and 42 schools in the regional sample (42 out of 86
schools). Thus the statewide numbers for both the statewide and
regional samples are unweighted data.
The KDE sample consisted of the 84 schools
randomly chosen for the CDC sample plus two additional high
schools randomly chosen. While 55 high schools did eventually
agree to participate, several did not actually conduct the
survey after receiving the materials. Fortunately enough schools
did participate in 6 of the states 8 service center regions to
have weighted data for these 5 regions. Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 7,
and 8 all have weighted data. However, regions 5 and 6 did not
have adequate participation and have unweighted data.
Demographics
KDE Data Sample:
Number:
Sex:
Race:
Grade:
3,032 students in 42 schools
53% female, 47% male
86% White, 9% African-American, 2%
Latino/Hispanic, & 3% all other races
44% 9th graders, 21% 10th graders,
19% 11th graders, & 16% 12th graders
How are the KDE and CDC Results Different?
Which Sample Should I Use?
Both the 2001 YRBS KDE sample and the CDC
sample include a higher than expected number of 9th graders.
The sample is thus statistically biased towards responses of
younger teens. This bias is apparent when looking at behaviors
that can be expected to vary by age. For example, one would
expect more 12th graders to report having sexual intercourse,
using illicit dugs or smoking daily than would 9th graders.
Since there are “too many” 9th graders in the samples, when we
look at the percentage of students who report sexual intercourse
or other age-linked behavior, that percentage is artificially
decreased. One analogy to help explain this bias might be to
think about trying to estimate the average income of those in a
particular region. If one included data from all adults working
at fast food restaurants (who would tend to be younger), and
failed to included an equal number of adults working in
professional positions (who would tend to be older), the data
would show a lower average wage than is true- because of the
presence of too many young adults (college students) working low
paying jobs in the fast food industry.
The 2001 YRBS data shows a consistent bias
towards younger grades' responses. This bias lowers the
percentage of Kentucky teens that report various behaviors
(substance use, smoking, sexual behaviors, etc.) In keeping
with its parallel reporting for individual states, the CDC's
reporting for Kentucky does not correct for this bias because
the sample size was not adequate to allow for a statistically
valid correction.
The Kentucky Department of Education, The
University of Kentucky Prevention Research Center and the
Kentucky Department for Public Health encourage the use of the
KDE sample for reporting, grant writing, program monitoring or
other uses of this data. Again – the reason for this
recommendation is that the data reported by CDC does not adjust
for the overrepresentation of 9th graders in the sample while
the KDE sample data numbers have been corrected for this age
bias. The KDE data can be viewed at:
http://www.ukcph.org/cfpr/yrbs2001/
Contacts
Phone:
502-564-2706
Fax: 502-564-8149
Email:
Barbara Donica, Kentucky
Department of education
Data
These numbers are from the Spring 2001
Regional Sample for Kentucky using the 2001 Youth Risk
Behavior Survey. Figures from the national and statewide
sample will be released by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2002.
Cardio-vascular Risks and Behaviors
Cardio-vascular includes nutrition and fitness information.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
STD and Unwanted Pregnancy Risks
STD and Unwanted Pregnancy Risks - by Region
1999 YRBS -Kentucky
1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey for
Kentucky
YRBS -Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance
Further national data, the
questionnaire, and national trends
Links
