At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- The YRBS is part of the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) YRBSS and NYC survey follows the protocol developed by CDC, and the NYC questionnaire is adapted from the CDC developed core instrument.
- The questionnaire measures tobacco, alcohol and drug use; behaviors that contribute to unintentional injury and violence; sexual behaviors; dietary behaviors; physical activity; and sleep. It also monitors the prevalence of obesity and asthma
Website
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-sets/nyc-youth-risk-behavior-survey.page
Purpose
The New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) , like the national YRBS, is designed to determine the prevalence of health-risk behaviors among high school students; assess whether these behaviors increase, decrease, or stay the same over time; and examine the co-occurrence of health-risk behaviors.
Target Population
Public New York City high school students in grades 9 through 12 and middle school students in grades 6 through 8 across all five boroughs.
Conducted
The YRBS has been conducted in odd number years since 1997, and in 2018 the first middle school YRBS was conducted. The most recent high school YRBS was conducted in 2019.
Sponsor
The New York City YRBS is conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Division of Epidemiology, Bureau of Epidemiology Services in collaboration with the New York City Department of Education.
Sampling
Sample Design
The NYC YRBS employs a stratified, two-stage cluster sample designed to produce a representative sample of students. Learn more about the sampling design.
Source of Information
Students in randomly selected classes complete the self-administered paper and pencil survey.
Sample Size
Approximately 10,191 students in 2017 for the high school YRBS and 2,333 students in 2018 for the middle school YRBS.
Special Note(s)
The YRBS excludes students in juvenile detention centers, and alternative and special education schools. English as a Second Language (ESL) and special education classes in eligible high schools are also excluded from the sample.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Age | Interview/questionnaire |
| Sex | Interview/questionnaire |
| Race/ethnicity | Interview/questionnaire |
| Grade | Interview/questionnaire |
Diet-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Fruit/vegetable consumption | Interview/questionnaire |
| Sugary drink consumption | Interview/questionnaire |
Physical Activity-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Active transportation to school | Interview/questionnaire |
| Physical activity/exercise | Interview/questionnaire |
| Screen time (i.e., TV, video, computer games) | Interview/questionnaire |
Sleep-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Sleep duration and quantity: Total sleep time during workdays/schooldays | Interview/Questionnaire with Adolescent |
| Sleep timing and regularity: Time to bed | Interview/Questionnaire with Adolescent |
| Sleep timing and regularity: Time woke up | Interview/Questionnaire with Adolescent |
| Social sleep environment: Sleep location (e.g., living room) | Interview/Questionnaire with Adolescent |
| Social sleep environment: Other | Interview/Questionnaire with Adolescent |
Weight-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Height | Interview/questionnaire |
| Weight | Interview/questionnaire |
Geocode/Linkage
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Borough | N/A |
Other
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Driving behavior | Interview/questionnaire |
| Violence | Interview/questionnaire |
| Bullying | Interview/questionnaire |
| Self-harm | Interview/questionnaire |
| Suicide/sad feelings | Interview/questionnaire |
| Tobacco and electronic vapor products | Interview/questionnaire |
| Alcohol and Drug use | Interview/questionnaire |
| Sexual behaviors | Interview/questionnaire |
| Asthma | Interview/questionnaire |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Obtain data by visiting the YRBS website
Cost
Free.
Special Note(s)
Data also can be accessed from EpiQuery, a web-based interactive query tool.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
Borough, Zip code
Existing Linkages
None found.
Selected Publications
Click here for a full list of publications.
General
Borrell LN, Menendez BS, Joseph SP. Racial/ethnic disparities on self-reported hypertension in New York City: examining disparities among Hispanic subgroups. Ethnicity & Disease 2011 Autumn;21(4):429-436.
Jack D, Neckerman K, Schwartz-Soicher O, Lovasi GS, Quinn J, Richards C, Bader M, Weiss C, Konty K, Arno P, Viola D, Kerker B, Rundle A. Socio-economic status, neighbourhood food environments and consumption of fruits and vegetables in New York City. Public Health Nutrition 2013;6:1-9.
Tabaei BP, Chamany S, Driver CR, Kerker B, Silver L. Incidence of self-reported diabetes in New York City, 2002, 2004, and 2008 . Preventing Chronic Disease 2012;9:E114.
Yaemsiri S, Olson EC, He K, Kerker BD. Food concern and its associations with obesity and diabetes among lower-income New Yorkers. Public Health Nutrition 2012;15(1):39-47.
Resources
Codebook, Questionnaire and additional information: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-sets/community-health-survey-public-use-data.page
EpiQuery Interactive Health Data Tool: https://a816-healthpsi.nyc.gov/epiquery/
Publications and Reports: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/publications.page
