Students will take the Survey on February 11 during a Connections FLEX. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding YRBS.
2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Fact Sheet
What is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey?
Also referred to as the YRBS, this survey is designed for students in grades 6-12. The
survey is conducted throughout the United States every two years.
The YRBS covers many different areas broadly related to health and wellness. The YRBS
focuses on health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading cause of death,
disability, and social problems during both adolescence and adulthood. These include
many topics, such as: diet and physical activity; alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; sexual
activity; access to food and housing; bullying and school safety; anxiety, stress, and
suicidality. In addition, the YRBS measures assets--such as a sense of belonging and
healthy relationships--which have the power to protect youth from engaging in risk
behaviors and help keep them safe, healthy, and successful.
Why is the survey being done?
The survey helps the state and local communities monitor trends in youth health and risk
behaviors. Knowing which risk behaviors are on the rise--as well as which are not--helps
schools and communities create smarter, more effective programs to help reduce these
risk behaviors and promote health enhancing behaviors. In most cases, the YRBS is the
only source of information for these important topics. In Wisconsin, results from the YRBS
help many communities apply for grant money to fund more services for youth in areas
such as drug and alcohol prevention, school safety, or mental health services.
What have YRBS data been used for?
YRBS data have been used to:
1) Describe student health behaviors, risks, and experiences.
2) Plan, monitor, and evaluate school health interventions.
3) Inform school policies and practices.
4) Support health-related policies, legislation, and laws.
5) Provide information and support for funding requests.
6) Inform teacher professional development.
Who supports this survey?
The survey is widely supported by national, state, and local education organizations,
health care providers, parent groups, and youth organizations. In Wisconsin, the survey is
voluntarily conducted by hundreds of schools throughout the state because it helps
answer some of our most important questions about what young people today are
experiencing and feeling.
When is the survey conducted and when are results available?
Data collection is scheduled to start in January 2025 and will end in June 2025. Reports
summarizing the results will be published the following school year.
Are the surveys standardized?
All YRBS-administering schools must use either the standard high school survey (for
grades 9-12) or the standard middle school survey (for grades 6-8). In addition, during the
registration process schools may opt to add up to two optional modules: 1) Drug-Free
Communities; 2) Youth Tobacco; 3) Adversity and Protective Factors; and 4) School
Climate. At the middle school level, four questions may be added related to the student’s
demographics.
What if my school has both middle school and high school grade levels?
Survey versions are determined by the grade level rather than the type of school.
Students in grades 6-8 should take the middle school version, while students in grades 9-
12 should take the high school version. Such schools can use one registration form to
register for both versions of the survey.
Are schools required to participate?
No. Participation in the YRBS is voluntary, and many schools register to participate.
However, for schools selected to participate in the national sample, participation rates
must be high to develop accurate estimates of priority health risk behaviors among youth.
Schools and students selected to participate in the national sample cannot be replaced,
and the goal is to achieve 90 to 95 percent participation by selected schools and students.
Do students answer the question truthfully?
Generally, yes. Research from other sources confirms the trends students report through
this survey. Research also indicates that data of this nature may be gathered as reliably
from adolescents as from adults. To obtain truthful answers, students must perceive the
survey as important and know that procedures have been developed to protect their
privacy and allow for anonymous participation.
Are sensitive questions asked?
Yes. Some questions may be considered sensitive. The questionnaire asks about
attempted suicide, tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, and behaviors related to violence.
Topics also include sexual intercourse and injection drug use, as these are among the
behaviors known to increase the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). Questions are written in a direct but sensitive way and the survey is anonymous,
thus reducing any uneasiness about answering questions considered sensitive. If students
are not comfortable answering a question, they may leave it blank.
Are students required to participate?
No. Students can opt out of the survey if they or their parents wish. In addition, students
can skip any questions which make them feel uncomfortable.
Will students’ names be used or linked to the surveys?
No. Survey administration procedures have been designed to protect student privacy and
allow for anonymous participation. Students will not put their names or other identifying
information on the questionnaires and no one at the school sees any individual students’
responses. Schools only get a summary report of their overall percentages.
Do students take the survey more than once to see how their behaviors change?
No. Each year a new sample of schools and students is picked. Students who take part one
year cannot be tracked because their names are not on the survey.
How were specific students picked to be in the survey?
A class(es) within a school is selected to participate. All students in that class are then
asked to participate.
How long does it take to fill out the survey? Does the survey include a physical test?
One class period is needed to fill out the survey. Most students finish the survey within
approximately 35 minutes. The survey does not include a physical test or exam.
Can I see the questions which will be asked?
Yes, the main survey is available on the DPI website. In addition, schools may add up to
two additional modules. The questions asked through the optional modules are also
available on the DPI website.
What will be done with the results?
Results are combined and summarized to provide meaningful information while
protecting students’ privacy and anonymity. A report summarizing the results will be
made available for the school to track its trends over time and make improvements to
school health and wellness programs as needed. Results across several schools can be
combined to produce county-level statistics, without identifying the schools. Such results
are used to track health behaviors and risks in a county and help communities apply for
funds in areas of greatest need. State-level results help policymakers assess how well
Wisconsin is doing in the areas of youth wellness and to develop or enhance programming
to meet today’s needs.
How can I find YRBS Reports from previous years?
Please visit https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/yrbs to view Wisconsin survey data. You may also
want to visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm to view the most
recently published national results.
How do schools or districts access the reports?
Information regarding how to access reports can be found on the Conducting a YRBS
webpage under the “School and District-level results” tab.
Whom can parents contact if they have questions about the survey?
Parents should contact their school’s counselor or their child’s teacher. If the counselor or
teacher cannot immediately answer the questions, they can provide the appropriate
contact information.
Whom can school staff and/or the YRBS School Contact reach out to if they have
questions about the survey?
Contact Casie Sulzle, the State of Wisconsin’s YRBS Coordinator, by emailing
casie.sulzle@dpi.wi.gov or calling 608-266-7448.
