Free Youth Risk Behavior Survey
50+ Expert Crafted Youth Risk Behavior Survey Questions
Measuring Youth Risk Behavior is essential for spotting trends in substance use, mental health, and safety that can guide life-saving interventions. A Youth Risk Behavior survey captures honest insights into teens' habits and challenges, empowering schools and organizations to create targeted support programs. Get started right away with our free template preloaded with example questions - or head to our form builder to customize your own survey.
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Top Secrets to Designing a Powerful Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Launching a Youth Risk Behavior survey is the first step toward understanding teen health trends. When you gather insights on behavior risks - like substance use, mental health challenges, or exposure to violence - you empower schools and communities to act faster. Clear, concise questions create trust; students answer honestly when they know you respect their time. According to the CDC's 2023 YRBSS report, digital surveys on tablets see participation rates jump by nearly 60% over paper forms (CDC 2023 YRBSS).
Start by defining your goals. Are you measuring bullying, screen time, or emotional well-being? A focused survey keeps students engaged and cuts fatigue. Imagine a guidance counselor launching a quick 10-minute survey on tablets during homeroom, asking "What are the biggest challenges you face at school?" That scenario illustrates how context and timing boost honest responses. For deeper insights on survey strengths and limits, check out Tracking Adolescent Health Behaviors and Outcomes.
Balance your formats. Use closed-ended items like "How often do you worry about grades?" alongside open prompts such as "Describe one way adults support you when you're stressed." This mixed method approach yields rich data you can quantify and quote. Always pilot test your questions with a small group to catch confusing wording. Then use stratified sampling - pulling students from different grades or backgrounds - to ensure every voice counts.
When done right, your survey data guide policies, secure grants, and justify new programs. A clear report can convince stakeholders to fund a peer-mentoring initiative or more counselors. Kick off the process with a quick online poll to map key topics, then refine it with expert feedback. Check out our Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey template for questions proven to work. You'll move from uncertainty to action, armed with insights that make a difference.
5 Must-Know Tips to Avoid Common Youth Risk Behavior Survey Mistakes
Even seasoned teams stumble on common pitfalls when they run a Youth Risk Behavior survey. Vague questions like "Do you feel okay sometimes?" can yield misleading data. Or sending surveys late on a Friday means low response rates and rushed answers. According to the YRBSS Methods, clarity and timing are just as critical as question content.
Tip 1: Always pilot test your survey. Run it by a small group of 10 - 15 students to catch ambiguous language or technical glitches. For example, early feedback might show that "Rate your stress level from 1 to 5" feels too abstract. Adjust it to "How stressed did you feel in the past week?" before full launch.
Tip 2: Ensure demographic balance. If sophomore voices dominate, your results won't reflect the whole school. Use stratified sampling to invite equal numbers across grades and backgrounds. This method mirrors best practices from the 2021 update (CDC 2021 YRBSS).
Tip 3: Ask specific questions. Steer clear of generalities. Instead of "Do you eat breakfast?" try "How often do you skip breakfast before school?" This direct approach makes answers actionable and reduces guesswork.
Tip 4: Choose the right timing. Launch in the morning when students are alert, not during exams or holiday weeks. A well-timed survey boosts completion rates by up to 20%. Schedule reminders - one midweek and one day before the deadline - to keep momentum.
Tip 5: Handle sensitive topics ethically by offering "Prefer not to answer" for questions like "Have you ever felt unsafe at school?" and "Do you experience cyberbullying?" Provide resources or hotlines at the end. Model a Youth Engagement Survey by including support links. With these tips, you'll dodge common traps and collect data that drives real change.
Substance Use Questions
This category explores youth consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances to identify risk levels and patterns. Responses help shape prevention programs and policies. Data aligns with Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey benchmarks.
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Do you currently smoke cigarettes?
Captures current tobacco use among youth, a key indicator of long-term health risks. Data informs anti-smoking campaigns.
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Have you used e-cigarettes or vaping devices in the past 30 days?
Assessess vaping habits, which have risen sharply in adolescents. Gauges need for targeted e-cigarette prevention efforts.
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How often do you drink alcohol (more than just a few sips) during a typical week?
Measures regular alcohol consumption to monitor early drinking patterns. Helps evaluate the effectiveness of youth alcohol policies.
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In the past month, how many times have you consumed five or more drinks in a row?
Identifies binge drinking instances that pose immediate health dangers. Guides design of educational programs on safe alcohol use.
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Have you ever used marijuana?
Determines lifetime exposure to marijuana, highlighting experimentation rates. Informs substance use prevention strategies.
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In the past 30 days, how many times have you used marijuana?
Tracks recent marijuana use to identify ongoing consumption trends. Allows evaluation of legalization impacts on youth behavior.
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Have you ever used prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription?
Explores misuse of prescription drugs, a growing concern among adolescents. Supports development of prescription safety initiatives.
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In the past year, how often have you misused prescription pain relievers?
Quantifies prescription pain reliever misuse frequency to target interventions. Helps healthcare providers monitor potential abuse.
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Have you ever tried any illicit drugs such as cocaine or heroin?
Screens for use of harder drugs to understand high-risk behaviors. Guides resource allocation for substance abuse treatment.
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To what extent do you feel peer pressure to use substances?
Evaluates peer influence on substance use choices. Informs peer-led prevention and support programs.
Physical Activity and Nutrition Questions
For a balanced picture of youth well-being, assessing physical activity and dietary habits is critical. This section gauges exercise frequency, screen time, and nutritional choices to inform health promotion strategies. Insights also support the Youth Health Survey objectives.
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How many days per week do you engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity?
Measures adherence to physical activity guidelines for youth. Data supports planning of exercise promotion programs.
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On an average day, how many hours do you spend watching TV, playing video games, or using electronic devices recreationally?
Monitors sedentary behaviors that contribute to obesity risks. Guides screen-time reduction strategies.
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How often do you consume sugary drinks such as soda or energy drinks?
Assesses intake of sugary beverages linked to weight gain. Helps develop nutritional education targeting drink choices.
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How many servings of fruits do you eat on a typical day?
Tracks fruit consumption as part of a balanced diet. Informs initiatives to increase fruit intake among students.
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How many servings of vegetables do you eat on a typical day?
Monitors vegetable intake to evaluate dietary quality. Supports school-based nutrition improvement efforts.
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Do you skip breakfast more than twice in a typical school week?
Identifies breakfast skipping patterns, linked to energy and concentration. Guides implementation of school meal programs.
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How often do you eat fast food in a typical week?
Measures fast food consumption that may affect health outcomes. Helps tailor interventions promoting healthier food options.
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Have you ever been advised by a healthcare professional to change your diet or exercise habits?
Indicates professional health feedback which can motivate lifestyle changes. Helps assess impact of healthcare guidance.
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Do you participate in organized sports or physical clubs outside school?
Determines participation in organized activities promoting fitness. Informs community sports and club offerings.
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How confident are you in making healthy eating and exercise choices?
Gauges self-efficacy in health decisions, crucial for lasting behavior change. Supports development of confidence-building resources.
Mental Health and Well-being Questions
Mental and emotional health directly influence youth behavior and academic success. By probing stress levels, mood, and coping strategies, this category uncovers areas for supportive intervention. It complements the YouthTruth Survey framework to address student well-being.
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During the past week, how often have you felt sad or hopeless almost every day?
Screens for persistent feelings of sadness linked to depression risk. Helps identify students needing mental health support.
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In the past month, have you experienced high levels of stress or anxiety?
Measures stress and anxiety prevalence affecting learning and well-being. Guides development of stress-management programs.
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Have you ever seriously considered attempting suicide?
Assesses suicidal ideation to prioritize immediate intervention. Informs crisis prevention and safety planning.
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In the past year, how many times have you engaged in self-harming behaviors?
Captures self-harm behavior frequency, a serious mental health indicator. Supports targeted therapeutic services.
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How often do you feel you have someone you can talk to about your problems?
Evaluates availability of emotional support networks. Guides creation of peer-support and mentoring programs.
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Do you practice any mindfulness or relaxation techniques regularly?
Tracks coping strategies like mindfulness to gauge resilience. Informs workshops on stress-relief techniques.
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How would you rate your overall sleep quality each night?
Assesses sleep quality, critical for adolescent mental health. Helps design sleep hygiene education.
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Have you ever received professional counseling or therapy for mental health concerns?
Identifies prior therapy experiences to understand service access. Supports expansion of counseling resources.
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How often do you feel overwhelmed by schoolwork or social pressures?
Monitors overwhelming feelings that can impair daily functioning. Guides adjustment of academic pressure and support systems.
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How confident do you feel in your ability to manage daily stress?
Measures confidence in stress management skills. Helps tailor resilience-building curricula.
Safety and Injury Prevention Questions
Safety habits and injury prevention are central to reducing harm among adolescents. This section examines exposure to bullying, violence, and accident-prone behaviors. Results align with the Youth Violence Survey data collection.
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In the past year, have you been involved in a physical fight on school property?
Determines physical altercations at school impacting student safety. Guides anti-violence and conflict-resolution initiatives.
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Have you ever been bullied in person or online?
Screens for bullying experiences that affect mental and physical health. Informs anti-bullying policies and programs.
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How often do you wear a seatbelt when riding in a car?
Monitors seatbelt use to reduce injury in vehicular accidents. Supports safety education in schools.
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Do you wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboard?
Tracks helmet use to prevent head injuries during recreation. Guides community helmet promotion efforts.
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Have you ever driven a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
Assesses impaired driving behaviors posing serious safety risks. Informs campaigns on sober driving.
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In the past month, how often have you felt unsafe traveling to or from school?
Evaluates feelings of safety in transit to address school climate. Supports safe route and transportation programs.
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Have you ever been injured in a sports or recreational activity requiring medical attention?
Records injury history to identify common accident sources. Helps improve sports safety guidelines.
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How comfortable are you speaking up if you witness someone being harmed?
Gauges willingness to intervene in harmful situations. Guides bystander training and empowerment programs.
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Do you know emergency procedures (e.g., CPR or first aid) for common injuries?
Assesses emergency preparedness knowledge for injuries. Informs first aid training initiatives.
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How often do you follow safety guidelines provided by adults or coaches?
Monitors compliance with safety rules to reinforce positive behaviors. Supports coaching and adult-led safety reinforcement.
Sexual Behavior and Reproductive Health Questions
Understanding sexual health and reproductive behaviors is vital for designing effective education and support. This section gathers data on sexual activity, contraceptive use, and related health services. Findings can inform future programs like our Sample Youth Program Survey .
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Have you ever had sexual intercourse?
Establishes baseline for sexual activity among youth. Informs age-appropriate sexual education programs.
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At what age did you first become sexually active?
Captures timing of sexual debut to assess risk exposure. Guides early intervention and education timing.
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During your last sexual encounter, did you or your partner use a condom?
Measures condom use to evaluate safe sex practices. Supports STI and pregnancy prevention efforts.
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Have you ever used any form of birth control?
Assesses birth control use to understand contraceptive behaviors. Guides access to family planning resources.
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How often do you discuss sexual health topics with a trusted adult?
Evaluates communication with adults on sexual health. Helps develop parent and guardian engagement materials.
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Have you ever been tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
Tracks STI testing rates to gauge awareness and access. Informs reproductive health service provision.
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How confident do you feel in accessing sexual health resources when needed?
Measures confidence in accessing care, critical for use of resources. Guides outreach to improve service utilization.
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Have you ever felt pressured to engage in sexual activity?
Screens for experiences of coercion, a key risk factor. Informs programs on consent and healthy relationships.
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Do you know where to find confidential reproductive health services in your community?
Assesses awareness of local health services. Helps agencies improve information dissemination.
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How would you rate your overall knowledge of sexual and reproductive health?
Evaluates knowledge level to identify education gaps. Supports curriculum development for sexual health literacy.
Peer Influence and Social Dynamics Questions
Peer relationships and social dynamics influence many risk behaviors in adolescents. This category explores peer pressure, social support, and involvement in community activities. It builds upon insights from the Youth Engagement Survey .
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How often do your friends engage in behaviors you feel are risky?
Monitors risk behaviors within peer groups influencing decisions. Guides peer-based intervention design.
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Have you ever felt pressured by peers to do something you were uncomfortable with?
Assesses susceptibility to peer pressure for prevention focus. Helps develop refusal skills training.
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Do you participate in community service or volunteer activities with peers?
Measures community engagement promoting prosocial behavior. Informs service-learning opportunities.
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How supported do you feel by your peer group in making healthy decisions?
Evaluates perceived support in healthy choices. Guides social support network strengthening.
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Have you ever witnessed your friends using substances without adult supervision?
Screens exposure to unsupervised substance use among friends. Informs parental and community monitoring strategies.
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How often do your peers talk positively about academic or personal goals?
Monitors positive peer discussions that can motivate goals. Supports peer mentorship and encouragement programs.
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Do you feel included and respected within your social groups?
Assesses inclusion to identify potential isolation issues. Guides social integration initiatives.
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How comfortable are you discussing difficult topics with friends?
Measures comfort in open communication with peers. Helps design peer-led support groups.
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Have you ever sought advice from peers about health or safety concerns?
Tracks peer advice-seeking habits on health and safety. Informs resource development for accessible guidance.
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How influential are your friends on the choices you make daily?
Gauges friend influence on daily choices and habits. Supports programs leveraging positive peer modeling.
