SURVEY TITLE: Youth Risk Behavior Survey(s)     

ACRONYMN: YRBS

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 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System was developed in
1990 to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. These behaviors, often established during childhood and early adolescence, include: tobacco use, unhealthy dietary behaviors, inadequate physical activity, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV infection), and behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence.

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 State - Various Cities - Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Colorado State - Boulder County - Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Delaware State Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Illinois State - Chicago - Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Maine State Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Maryland State - Baltimore - Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Massachusetts State Youth Risk Behavior Survey

New York State - New York City - Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Oregon State Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Pennsylvania State - Philadelphia - Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Vermont State Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Washington State - Seattle - Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Wisconsin State Youth Risk Behavior Survey

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

At one point a sexual orientation question was added to the survey.  The following published
report briefly describes what happened:

• CDC to let States decide whether to ask teens about sex. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AIDS Policy Law. 1998 Aug 7;13(14):7. AIDS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eliminated a question about whether teenagers engage in same sex behavior from its 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Every two years, this survey asks high school students a variety of questions about health, sexual behavior, nutrition, drug and alcohol use, and smoking. The question about same sex behavior was considered controversial, so States are allowed to decide if they want to include the question.