The 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Vermont Department of HealthAgency of Human Services

September 27, 2005

The 2005 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey Measures the prevalence of behaviors that contribute

to the leading causes of death, disease, and injury Enables us to:

Monitor trends Compare VT to US Plan, evaluate and

improve community and school programs that prevent health problems and promote healthy behavior

Over 31,000 VT students participate

The 2005 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior SurveyMETHODSStatewide Sample

Sampling: Twenty Vermont high schools of varying sizes, along with their 29 associated middle schools were randomly selected for the state sample

Response rates: Forty-six of the 49 sampled schools participated. School response rate was 94% Student response rate was 77% The overall response rate was 72%

(.94 X .77 = .72)

The 2005 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior SurveyMETHODS (cont’d)Volunteer Sample Sampling: All remaining VT schools with students in

grades 8–12 were invited to participate

Response rates: Of the 150 public schools invited,138 participated (92%) A total of 31,617 public school students participated

(79% of VT’s total ‘04–‘05 enrollment)

The 2005 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior SurveyDATA COLLECTION One staff person (school coordinator) per school attends

YRBS administration training School coordinator is responsible for training all teachers

to administer the YRBS Questionnaires are administered by teachers during an

extended homeroom session or during a period when a regular class is cancelled for the day

Students are instructed that participation is completely voluntary

The 2005 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior SurveyDATA COLLECTION (cont’d) At each school, all students complete the questionnaire

during the same time period (except under extenuating circumstances)

Completed questionnaires are placed in a large envelope, sealed, and sent directly to data contractor without anyone at the school seeing them

Questionnaires are received by data contractor who codes them by school only

Violence

Fewer students plan suicide 11% of students made a suicide plan during the

past year, down from 16% in 1999

15% of girls made a suicide plan vs. 8% of boys, and 9% of girls actually attempted vs. 4% boys

ViolencePhysical fighting is down from 1993. 27% of students fought, down from 45% in 1993; but

unchanged from 29% in 1999 6% of students were threatened or injured with a weapon on

school property, similar to 8% in 1999 13% of boys carried weapons to school down slightly from

19% in 1999 6% of students were hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a

boyfriend or girlfriend, similar to 8% in 1999 18% of students were bullied, and 21% someone during the

past 30 days

Physical Fighting in Vermont 1993–2005Percent of students who were in a physical fight during the past 12 months

54

40 3846

30 2733

18 17

0

50

100

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

8th Grade10th Grade12th Grade

DrivingRiding in a car with a drinking driver down.

Drinking and driving unchanged. 22% of students rode with a drinking driver, compared to

26% in 1999 8% of students have driven when drinking alcohol,

unchanged from 10% in 1999 23% rode with a driver who had been using mj,

compared to 30% in 1999 11% of students have driven when using mj, compared

to 16% in 1999

Drinking and Driving in Vermont 1993–2005Percent of students who during the past 30 days drove a car or other vehicle when they had been drinking alcohol

713

6 615

162625

0

50

100

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

10th Grade12th Grade

Driving and Marijuana Use in Vermont 1993–2005Percent of students who during the past 30 days drove a car or other vehicle when they had been using marijuana

12 10 10

23 2621

0

50

100

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

10th Grade12th Grade

DrivingSafety belt use is up.

83% of students always or almost always wore a safety belt when riding in a car, up from 77% in 1999

86% of students always or almost always wore a safety belt when driving a car, up from 83% in 1999

SmokingCigarette smoking continues to decline.

More students disapprove of smoking. 16% of students smoked, down from 31% in 1999

14% of students smoked prior to age 13, down from 28% in 1999

69% of students report that it is easy to get cigarettes, compared to 74% in 1999

78% of students think it is wrong to smoke cigarettes, up from 57% in 1999

Cigarette Smoking in Vermont 1993–2005Percent of students who smoked cigarettes during the past 30 days

2029

11 8

3241

19 16

3845

33

23

0

50

100

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

8th Grade10th Grade12th Grade

Alcohol

Alcohol use is declining. Still too many teens drink alcohol.

37% of students drink alcohol, down from 46% in 1999

72% of 8th graders think it is wrong to drink alcohol, up from 64% in 1999

21% of students binge drink, down from 29% in 1999

Alcohol Use in Vermont 1993–2005Percent of students who drank alcohol during the past 30 days

2921 19

5058

40 41

6156

5040

63

0

50

100

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

8th Grade10th Grade12th Grade

Marijuana UseMarijuana use is declining.

More students disapprove of marijuana use.

22% of students used marijuana, down from 32% in 1997

84% of 8th graders think it is wrong to use marijuana, up from 73% in 1999

Marijuana Use in Vermont 1993–2005Percent of students who used marijuana during the past 30 days

6

1610 8

18

3527 2525

35 3730

0

50

100

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

8th Grade10th Grade12th Grade

Other drugsCocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogen use

declining.Heroin use unchanged.

6% have ever used cocaine, down from 9% in 1999 5% have ever used methamphetamines, down from

10% in 1999 10% have ever used hallucinogens, down from 20% in

1999 3% have ever used heroin, unchanged from 4% in 1999 55% of students know an adult who uses illegal drugs

and 31% know an adult who sells illegal drugs

SexOver one-third (36%) of students

have had sex. 65% of students who are sexually active used a

condom during their most recent sexual experience, up slightly from 60% in 2003

24% of students who are sexually active use alcohol or other drugs before sex, down from 31% in 1999

Sexual Intercourse in Vermont 1993–2005Percent of students who have ever had sex

22 2515 15

44 46

35 33

70 6761 60

0

50

100

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

8th Grade10th Grade12th Grade

DietLess students eat enough fruits and

vegetables.

24% of students eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, down from 33% in 1999

ExerciseLess students take PE every day.

14% of students take PE five days a week, down from 24% in 1999

67% of students exercise aerobically three or more times per week, similar to 64% in 1999

36% of students spend three or more hours per school day watching TV, playing video games, or using the computer for fun, similar to 35% in 2003

Youth assetsMost students talk to their parents about school. 78% of students said their parents talked with them every day

or week, up slightly from 74% in 1999

31% spend 1 or more hours per week participating in clubs/organization, similar to 28% in 2003

46% spend 1 or more hours per week volunteering their time, similar to 45% in 2003

88% have an adult in their life they can turn to for help and advice

Resources www.healthvermont.gov