Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey A joint project between the Department of Education and Early Development and Department of Health and Social Services in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Purposes of the YRBSS Focus the nation on behaviors among youth causing the most important health problems Assess how risk behaviors change over time Provide comparable data

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Behaviors That Contribute to the Leading Causes of Morbidity and Mortality Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence Tobacco use Alcohol and other drug use Sexual behaviors Unhealthy dietary behaviors Inadequate physical activity

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Characteristics of the National, State, and Local School-Based YRBS 9 th – 12th grade students Probability samples of schools and students Anonymous and voluntary Self-administered, computer-scannable questionnaire or answer sheet Completed in one class period (45 minutes) Conducted biennially usually during the spring

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Policy and Program Applications Describe risk behaviors Create awareness Set program goals Develop programs and policies Support health-related legislation Seek funding

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Requires active parental consent in Alaska (AS ) Active consent: A student is not allowed to participate unless the parent returns a signed permission form. Passive consent: A student is excluded from the survey if the parent returns a signed form denying permission.

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Target minimum response rate is 60% or higher for weighted (representative) data Weighted data – adjusted to represent all high school students in the state. Unweighted data – data represents only the students who participated in the survey.

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Alaska Survey History weighted data, state report weighted data excluding Anchorage, state report 2003 – weighted data, state report 2007 – weighted data, state report in progress

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Alaska Survey Response Rates 1995 – school participation rate 82% x 78% student participation rate = 64% overall rate 2003 – school participation rate 90% x 68% student participation rate = 62% overall rate 2007 – school participation rate 88% x 66% student participation rate = 60% overall rate

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey GradeMaleFemaleTotal * 9th th th th Total * , Alaska Sample * Total includes unknown gender and grade

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey RaceMaleFemaleTotal * White Non-hispanic Native Any mention Black Non-hispanic Hispanic Other & Multiple Total * , Alaska Sample * Total includes unknown gender and race

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey *Rate is deaths per 100,000 age population Leading Causes of Death Alaska ages Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Leading Causes of Death Alaska all ages Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Percentage of students who: Never or rarely wore a seat belt when riding in a car Rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the past 30 days Carried a weapon during the past 30 days Attempted suicide during the past 12 months Smoked cigarettes during the past 30 days Drank alcohol during the past 30 days Used marijuana during the past 30 days Ever had sexual intercourse Were not physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the past seven days Did not attend PE class daily Were overweight Did not eat fruits and vegetables five or more times per day 2007 Summary Graphs Risk Behavior

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Percentage of students who: Sometimes, most of the time, or always wore a seat belt when riding in a car Did not ride with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the past 30 days Did not carry a weapon during the past 30 days Did not attempt suicide during the past 12 months Did not smoke cigarettes during the past 30 days Did not drink alcohol during the past 30 days Did not use marijuana during the past 30 days Never had sexual intercourse Were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the past seven days Attended PE class daily Were not overweight Ate fruits and vegetables five or more times per day 2007 Summary Graphs Positive Behavior

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Number of students in a class of 30 who: Never or rarely wore a seat belt when riding in a car Rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the past 30 days Carried a weapon during the past 30 days Attempted suicide during the past 12 months Smoked cigarettes during the past 30 days Drank alcohol during the past 30 days Used marijuana during the past 30 days Ever had sexual intercourse Were not physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the past seven days Did not attend PE class daily Were overweight Did not eat fruits and vegetables five or more times per day 2007 Summary Graphs Risk Behavior Note: This graph contains weighted results. See the corresponding summary table for detailed explanation of data.

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey Number of students in a class of 30 who: Sometimes, most of the time, or always wore a seat belt when riding in a car Did not ride with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the past 30 days Did not carry a weapon during the past 30 days Did not attempt suicide during the past 12 months Did not smoke cigarettes during the past 30 days Did not drink alcohol during the past 30 days Did not use marijuana during the past 30 days Never had sexual intercourse Were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the past seven days Attended PE class daily Were not overweight Ate fruits and vegetables five or more times per day 2007 Summary Graphs Positive Behavior Note: This graph contains weighted results. See the corresponding summary table for detailed explanation of data.

Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey

For more information: Patty Owen, YRBS Coordinator Charles Utermohle, Data Analyst