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 Sample Response rate Adjusted Response Total288985%82% 6 th grade71585%82% 8 th grade71689%84% 10 th grade78077%74% 12 th grade67889%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 (8 th, 10 th, 12 th ) Binge drinking in past month

Risk Behaviors that Improved 2007 – 2010

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

Continuation of Positive Trends

Risk Behaviors that Worsened 2007 to 2010  For all students Victim of bullying Depressive symptoms (persistent sadness and/or hopelessness)

Risk Behaviors that Worsened

A Closer Look at Depressive Symptoms

A Closer Look at Bullying

Other Changes in 6 th Grade

Other Changes in 10 th Grade

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?

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

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, 6 th to 12 th grade, get less than 8 hours of sleep  Older youth are even less likely to get enough sleep

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 8 th to 12 th grade 9 percent misused painkillers 8 percent misused other prescription drugs 9 percent misused OTC drugs

Parental disapproval

Perceptions of harm

Parental Disapproval and Risk of Harm

Other new findings  12 percent of 6 th graders were victims of cyberbullying in past year  Among students in 8 th to 12 th 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)