SURVEY TITLE: Behavioral Risk Factor Survey(s)

ACRONYM: BRFS

SPONSOR: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Department of Health and Human Services.

SURVEY PURPOSE: The CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System has helped state and local areas survey U.S. adults to gather information about a wide range of behaviors that affect their health.  The primary focus of these Behavioral Risk Factor Surveys has been on behaviors that are linked with the leading causes of death—heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and injury—and other important health issues.  These behaviors include: 1) not getting enough physical activity, 2) being overweight, 3) not using seatbelts, 4) using tobacco and alcohol, and 5) not getting preventive medical care that can save lives, such as flu shots, mammograms, Pap smears, and colorectal cancer screening tests.

LOCATION SAMPLED: Designed to be a representative sample of each state or local area sampled. The following states or local areas have collected sexual orientation data:

California - San Francisco Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Connecticut State Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Georgia -Fulton County Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Massachusetts State Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

New York State Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

North Dakota State Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Oregon State Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Vermont State Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

YEARS SEXUAL ORIENTATION DATA COLLECTED: Sexual orientation questions were not added by any state or local area until after 1995.

SAMPLE SIZE: Wave I, 43,093 respondents; An attempt will be made to re-interview all 43,093 respondents during Wave 2.

METHOD OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION DATA COLLECTION: Face-to-Face, sexual orientation identity question; Flashcards, sexual attraction and sexual behavior questions.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION QUESTIONS: THIS SURVEY HAS NEVER INCLUDED A SEXUAL ORIENTATION VARIABLE AMONG THE CORE VARIABLES STATE AND LOCAL AREAS ARE RECOMMENDED TO COLLECT.  HOWEVER, STATE AND LOCAL SURVEYS CAN INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION VARIABLES IN ADDITION TO THE CORE REQUIRED VARIABLES IF THEY SO CHOOSE.