The YRBS 2010

Changes in Key Risk Behaviors and Developmental Assets

Outline

The Sample Significant changes in risk behaviors

Improved Positive trends Worsened

Significant changes in Assets-related questions

New questions

The 2010 Sample

SampleResponse

rateAdjusted Response

Total 2889 85% 82%

6th grade 715 85% 82%

8th grade 716 89% 84%

10th grade 780 77% 74%

12th grade 678 89% 87%

Risk Behaviors that Improved

For all students Use of alcohol in past month Carrying a weapon in past month Excessive television (more than 2 hours) Inadequate exercise

For older students (8th, 10th, 12th) Binge drinking in past month

Risk Behaviors that Improved2007 – 2010

14

3136

13

2529

60

19

10

22 24

50

15

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Weapons Alcohol Too muchTV

Too littleexercise

Bingedrinking

200420072010

Comparing Trends: Alcohol & Marijuana Use(HS Students only)

46

29

21

45

27

22

38

22 21

05

10

1520253035

404550

Alcohol Binge Marijuana

200420072010

Continuation of Positive Trends

8

31

14

5

27

13

3

25

10

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Gangmembership

Fighting Weapons

200420072010

Continuation of Positive Trends

3627

60

2923

50

24 21

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Too little exercise Too much TV Overweight/ obese

200420072010

Risk Behaviors that Worsened2007 to 2010

For all students Victim of bullying Depressive symptoms (persistent

sadness and/or hopelessness)

Risk Behaviors that Worsened

22

30

192122

24

05

10

1520253035

404550

Victim of bullying Depressive symptoms

200420072010

A Closer Look at Depressive Symptoms

24

2931

35

15

20 20

29

20 19

30 29

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

6th grade 8th grade 10th grade 12th grade

200420072010

A Closer Look at Bullying

33

27

19

13

22

27

16

11

27 28

21

14

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

6th grade 8th grade 10th grade 12th grade

200420072010

Other Changes in 6th Grade

33

9

36

21

5

2927

7

35

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Had things stolenor damaged at

school

Missed schoolbecause felt

unsafe

In a fight

200420072010

Other Changes in 10th Grade

28

4

2528

5

2525

2

21

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Had things stolenor damaged at

school

Missed schoolbecause felt

unsafe

In a fight

200420072010

Will Adults Help with Bullying? Expected to see a

decline Students in all

grades more likely to see adults as means of help

Are students now more willing to reveal bullying?

7166

63 6469

6561

67

76

67 65

72

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

6thgrade

8thgrade

10thgrade

12thgrade

2004 2007 2010

Questions related to Assets Agreement with two statements

In my town or city, I feel like I matter to people Adults in my town listen to what I have to say

If you had an important concern about drugs, alcohol, sex or some other serious issue, would you talk to your parents about it? Responses: Yes, probably yes, unsure, probably no

and no

Steady Improvement in Questions related to Developmental Assets

3833

5044

37

5650

45

63

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

I matter in mytown

Adults listen Would talk to myparents

200420072010

Stronger relationships with adults

Three positive trends Youth feel more valued in community Greater willingness to talk to parents

about concerns More likely to turn to adults for help with

bullying Creates the developmental

foundation for prevention of all risk behaviors

New Questions

Hours of sleep on a school night Risk of harm from substances Parental disapproval of substances Misuse of prescription / OTC drugs Romantic partner who

Verbally abuses you Always needs to know where you are

Victim of cyberbullying

Not enough sleep Over half of youth,

6th to 12th grade, get less than 8 hours of sleep

Older youth are even less likely to get enough sleep

56

27

50

69

78

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Less than 8 hrs

All

6th grade

8th grade

10thgrade12thgrade

New findings on substance use Parents don’t approve and young

people know it! Perceptions of harm vary by

substance and grade level Among youth in 8th to 12th grade

9 percent misused painkillers 8 percent misused other prescription

drugs 9 percent misused OTC drugs

Parental disapproval98 96 9897 95 9796

91 9492

8189

01020

3040506070

8090

100

Cigarettes Alcohol Marijuana

6th8th10th12th

Perceptions of harm

86

76

8887

77 7987

72

61

89

74

56

01020

3040506070

8090

100

Cigarettes Alcohol Marijuana

6thgrade8th grade10th grade12th grade

Parental Disapproval and Risk of Harm

9691

9587

7571

01020

3040506070

8090

100

Cigarettes Alcohol Marijuana

DisapprovalRisk of Harm

Other new findings

12 percent of 6th graders were victims of cyberbullying in past year

Among students in 8th to 12th grade 11 percent report verbal abuse by

romantic partners 17 percent report a partner who always

wants to know where you are

Conclusions Young people are largely better off than 3

(or 6) years ago Recent improvements not as large A few risk behaviors are worse

Further improvements need new approaches To “unstick” some risk behaviors (e.g. marijuana

use, sexual risk behaviors) Need to target interventions (e.g. bullying)