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Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)

Overview

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) was established in 1990 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor priority health risk behaviors and experiences that contribute to death, disability, and social problems among youth and young adults in the United States. The system monitors critical variables established during childhood and adolescence, including demographics, substance use, sexual behaviors, violence, as well as other student health behaviors and experiences. Data has been collected from over 5 million high school students through more than 2,300 separate surveys at national, state, territorial, tribal, and local levels. The YRBSS aims to determine the prevalence of health risk behaviors and assess trends over time. Published data, reports, questionnaires, and analysis tools are publicly accessible through the CDC YRBSS website. Data files are provided in Access and ASCII formats. All other data must be requested through the YRBSS Data Request Form.

Methodology and Generation

The YRBSS was created using a three-stage cluster sample design to produce a representative sample of 9th through 12th grade students in both public and private high schools. The selection process involved identifying schools systematically with probability proportional to enrollment, followed by systematic equal probability sampling of classes within a required subject or specific period. The survey has been distributed every two years. Once data was collected, responses underwent automated data edits to ensure range validity, logical consistency, and biologically reasonable values for height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Records that were overly incomplete or with suspicious response patterns were excluded from the final dataset. A weighting factor was applied to each usable record to adjust for nonresponse and oversampling, rendering generalizable data that matches nationwide population projections.

Standardized Healthcare Vocabularies

Internal Question Codes (Questions 1-107)

The core alphanumeric identifiers used to categorize each survey question and its corresponding clinical or behavioral concept.

Binary Variables (Question N# & word)

A standardized system of calculated variables where "1" represents a specific "Response of Interest" (ROI) and "2" represents all other valid responses.

2000 CDC Growth Charts

The specific reference data and sex-specific percentile limits used to define clinical classifications for BMI, Overweight, and Obesity.

Standard Race/Ethnicity Labels (raceeth)

A nominal categorical classification system (values 1-8) that standardizes the reporting of American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, White, and Hispanic/Latino identities.

Sexual Identity and Sexual Contact Labels

Standardized response options used to identify and categorize sexual minority youth (ie. gay, lesbian, or bisexual).

Complex Sampling Identifiers (Weight, Stratum, PSU)

Standardized variables required for statistical software to account for the three-stage cluster sample design, ensuring that prevalence estimates accurately represent the national youth population.

Short Response Labels

Standardized, shortened versions of response options (under 40 characters) used specifically as value labels in datasets and programs like SAS and SPSS to maintain technical clarity.

References

  1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) [Internet]. 2024. Site Index.

  2. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2023 YRBS Data Users Guide [Internet]. 2023 Sep.

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