YRBSS
In Brief
Background
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors priority
health-risk behaviors and the prevalence of
obesity and asthma among youth and young adults. The YRBSS includes a
national school-based survey conducted by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and state, territorial, tribal, and local
surveys conducted by state, territorial, and local education and health agencies and
tribal governments.
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six
categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults
including
- behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence;
- tobacco use;
- alcohol and other drug use;
- sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection;
- unhealthy dietary behaviors; and
- physical inactivity.
In addition, the YRBSS monitors the prevalence
of obesity and asthma.
In 2007, the YRBSS included a national school-based survey conducted by
CDC, 44 state surveys, five territory surveys, and 22 local surveys conducted among students in grades
9–12 during January 2007—February 2008.
More information on the purpose, components and use of the data for YRBSS
is available in the YRBSS Overview
[pdf 84k].
2007 Results
1991–2005 Results
Uses of YRBS 2007 data
YRBS 2007 data will be used to
- Measure progress toward achieving 15 national health objectives for
Healthy People 2010 and three of the 10 leading health indicators.
- Assess trends in priority health-risk behaviors among high school
students.
- Evaluate the impact of broad school and community interventions at the
national, state, and local levels.
For more information on using YRBS data refer to
Sussman MP, Everett Jones S, Wilson TW, Kann L. The Youth Risk Behavior
Surveillance System: Policy and program applications—an update. Journal of
School Health 2002;72(1):13–17.
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