2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Released
Nashville, TN – Results from Tennessee’s bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey for 2007 are now available through the Tennessee Department of Education’s Office of Coordinated School Health. The Coordinated School Health division works with dedicated personnel in every Tennessee school system to help students develop positive behaviors that promote good health and support academic achievement. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey attempts to measure high school student participation in risky behavior such as drug use and riding with an intoxicated driver.
“Awareness is vital to having fewer young people endanger themselves with the choices they make,” said Connie Givens, Director of the Office of Coordinated School Health. “This survey is one tool to gauge where we should increase efforts to encourage better decision-making.”
The voluntary and anonymous survey of 2,069 students at 45 high schools included questions in the following six categories: dietary behaviors; physical activity, behaviors resulting in unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors resulting in HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies.
Examples of areas of improvement from the 2007 report include:
|
Description of Behavior |
1993 |
2007 |
|
Percentage of students who attended PE class on one or more days in an average week |
31.1 |
39.2 |
|
Percentage of students who ever tried smoking |
74.9 |
54.6 |
|
Percentage of students who made a plan about committing suicide |
24.5 |
14.1 |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 1990 to monitor the prevalence of health risk behaviors that are leading causes of death, disability and social problems. In the spring of odd-numbered years, The CDC assists states in the administration and funding of the survey. Tennessee has participated since 1991.
CoverKids and Coordinated School Health Partnerships are two Tennessee initiatives working to improve the well-being of young people. Coordinated School Health Partnerships, now operating in school systems statewide, engage school personnel, students and the community in changing behaviors to create a healthier community. These partnerships focus on areas such as physical education, mental health and access to health services. CoverKids provides free health care coverage to eligible children up to age 18. For more information on CoverKids, call 1-866-COVERTN.