Analysis

Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) are essential tools for identifying and preventing health risks among youth. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a nationally representative survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assess health risk behaviors among adolescents in grades 9–12. The survey is administered every two years across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It is designed to provide data on behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among both youth and adults in the United States.

Objective

The purpose of this survey is to identify and prevent health risks in youth.

Scoring and Statistical Analysis

The PFYRBS-4 Survey consists of 4 items. Each item is scored by assigning point values corresponding to the response categories. For items with ranges, a midpoint value can also be used. The proportions for items 1, 3, and 4, along with the standard errors for these estimates, are calculated as follows:

Prevalence Rate = Σ(i=1 to n) PiCi
Standard Error = √(Σ Ci² × Var(Pi))

Where:

Pi = the proportion of subjects at level i

Ci = frequency of the behavior

Prevalence Rate = the product of the proportion of subjects (Pi) and the behavior frequency (Ci), or use a midpoint if there’s a range

Standard Error = the square root of the sum of squared behavior frequencies (Ci²) multiplied by the variance of each proportion (Var(Pi))

References

Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. New York City Youth Violence Survey. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993.

Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Youth Risk Behavior Survey – 2003. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003. Journal of Preventive Medicine, 43(2), S41-S56.