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Nutrition, Health and Safety

Youth Risk Behavior Survey

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - conducts the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in randomly selected high schools in every odd-numbered year. The YRBS focuses on the major risk behaviors that threaten the health and safety of young people. This anonymous survey includes questions about tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors that might lead to unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease, dietary behaviors, physical activity, and behaviors associated with intentional or unintentional injuries. Data from the YRBS provide accurate estimates of the prevalence of risk behaviors among public high school students in the Commonwealth, and are important for planning health education and risk prevention programs.

The YRBS results are never reported for individual districts or towns. However, many schools choose to conduct a local survey to gather data about the risk behaviors of their own students. ESE staff are available to provide technical assistance around how best to implement a survey project, how to notify parents, where to seek assistance with data analyses, and how to use the results to inform program and policy decisions.

Contacts:

Dr. Carol Goodenow
Director of Coordinated School Health Education
(781) 338-3603
cgoodenow@doe.mass.edu

Related Resources:

Health and Risk Behaviors of Massachusetts Youth, 2007  

	Health and Risk Behaviors of Massachusetts Youth, 2007
	2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results
	2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Executive Summary
	2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results
	2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Executive Summary
	2002 Youth Tobacco Report
	2001 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results