99 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)

99.1 Organization

Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

99.3 Description

  • De-identified survey responses from high school students, and in some cases middle school students
  • Monitors six categories of health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults.
  • Risk behavior, sexual behavior, alcohol and drug use, tobacco use, dietary behaviors, physical activity, obesity and asthma
  • National, state, and large urban school district data from selected surveys as well as a combined dataset
  • Combined datasets include sample variables, demographics, BMI, sexual minority, questionnaire and supplemental variables, and risk behavior optional question variables.

99.4 Vintage/Release Frequency

Biennial since 1991

99.5 Observational Unit

Survey record

99.6 Collection Methodology

  • National survey with a three-stage cluster sample design to produce a representative sample of 9-12th grade students.
  • YRBS combined datasets include survey data from all national and the majority of weighted national, state, and large urban school districts
  • Some sites did not grant CDC permission to include their data in the combined datasets

99.8 User Guide/Data Dictionary

Documentation available at same website as data download and at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/methods.htm

99.9 Cost

Free for download

99.10 Proposal or Application required?

No

99.11 DUA required?

No

99.12 Special Notes

n/a