January 9, 2006	Volume 5, Number 1

Family, social support protect youth from risky behaviors

A new survey reports that the vast majority of Wisconsin students have family support that helps insulate them from risky behaviors that tend to imperil youth development and success in school. The biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey, completed by 2,389 ninth- through 12th-grade students in 52 public high schools in spring 2005, showed that 88 percent of youth report they have families that give them love and support. Three-fourths of students also said they had two or more adults, other than their parents, they could turn to for support, and more than two-thirds of students felt their teachers really care about them and give them a lot of encouragement.

“Most young people have networks of caring support—parents, family, teachers, and other adults—that help them navigate the path to successful adulthood,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “These positive relationships in the lives of our youth are like a shield against the lure of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and early sexual behavior that can be so detrimental.”

Burmaster noted that popular culture tends to glamorize alcohol use and other risky behaviors. However, the results of this survey show most youth avoid fighting or carrying weapons, sexual intercourse, and tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana use. “It is important for students to know that most of their peers do not engage in these negative behaviors because misperceptions can lead to risk-taking,” Burmaster said.

One of the bright points of the survey was the decline in tobacco use, which went from 32 percent of students in 1993 to 23 percent in 2005. The percentage of students who began smoking before the age of 13 declined from 27 percent to 13 percent. The percentage of students smoking on school property dropped form 13 percent in 1993 to 6 percent in 2005. The survey also showed fewer students are experimenting with alcohol before the age of 13; current levels of alcohol use (past 30 days and binge drinking) and marijuana use (ever used and past 30 days) are showing signs of decreasing from a high in 2001; fewer students are having sex; those who are sexually active are abstaining longer before sexual intercourse; and among sexually active youth, more are using condoms; fewer students have seriously considered attempting suicide; more students are wearing seat belts on a consistent basis and fewer are a passenger in a car in which the driver has been drinking; and students are less likely to experience violence at school, with fewer fights, threats of violence, and weapons.

The survey also showed several areas of concern. While levels of student exercise were up overall, the improvement was mostly among males. One out of four students watch three or more hours of television on an average school day, and one-fourth of students are either at risk of becoming overweight or are overweight according to their Body Mass Index.

Despite signs of improvement in Wisconsin, students still report high levels of alcohol use, including binge drinking and drinking and driving. Additionally, too many students report they have access to illegal drugs on school grounds. Levels of students experiencing depression or attempting suicide remain unchanged.

The 2005 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted as part of a national effort to monitor health-risk behaviors among the nation’s high-schoolers. Students voluntarily completed a self-administered, anonymous, 99-item questionnaire. Survey procedures protect the privacy of students. Local parental permission procedures were followed before survey administration. The complete survey is available on the DPI web site.

Last updated on 1/9/2006