2013
Charlotte Mecklenburg
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
HIGH SCHOOL
TREND REPORT
A collaborative report from
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and
Mecklenburg County Health Department
2013
Charlotte Mecklenburg
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Introduction
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), produced by the Centers for Disease Control
and conducted every two years, assesses health risk behaviors that contribute to
some of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in youth.
The survey measures behaviors such as: unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco,
alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, other
sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies; nutrition; and physical
activity. The YRBS also measures self-reported height and weight to allow calculation
of body mass index.
New Questions for 2013
Several new questions were added to the local CMS survey in 2013. New questions
that were asked included:
• Expansion of intimate partner and dating violence questions
• Suicide attempts resulting in injury, poisoning or overdose
• Teens with older sexual partners
• Sexual orientation
The complete list of questions can be found on page 11 of this report.
Demographic Profiles
The first YRBS was administered in 2005 and included 18 high schools in the county. While
participation varies from year to year, the survey has expanded. The 2013 CharlotteMecklenburg YRBS was administered in 28 schools to 1,417 high school students.
Characteristics of Students Participating in the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg High School YRBS
Total Number of Student Surveyed 1,417*
Number
Weighted
Percentage
Male
Female
Race/Ethnicity
Black
Hispanic/Latino
White
All other races
Multiple races
Grade
678
722
50.3%
49.7%
461
256
460
89
103
43.9%
15.4%
32.5%
3.8%
4.4%
9th
10th
11th
12th
Ungraded or other grade
384
310
342
360
1
29.6%
26.4%
21.7%
22.2%
0.1%
473
695
236
37.0%
48.1%
15.0%
Gender
Age Group
≤ 15 years
16-17 years
≥ 18 years
*Numbers may not total 1,417 due to missing data.
Trends for Select Health Indicators
2013 Positive Trends
• Reports of being bullied on school
property decreased from 20% in
2007 to 16% in 2013.
• Students carrying a weapon
decreased from 17% in 2007 to 13%
in 2009.
• Cigarette smoking continues to
decline among students, from 15% in
2007 to almost 10% in 2013.
• The percentage of students reported
suicide attempts decreased from
13% in 2007 to about 8% in 2013.
• More than 45% of students were
physically active at least 60 minutes
per day on five or more of the past
seven days.
2013 Areas for Improvement
• Although reports of bullying have
decreased, almost half of students
think bullying by other students is a
problem at their school.
• Students reporting symptoms of
depression remains constant at 28%.
• Marijuana use increased from 20% in
2007 to 29% in 2013.
• Over a third of students reported
having at least one drink of alcohol in
the past month.
• Almost half of students surveyed
ever had sexual intercourse.
• About 40% of students played a
video or computer game or used a
computer for something that was
not school work 3 or more hours per
day on an average school day, up
from 26% in 2007.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg
HIGH SCHOOL Students
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --i
Demographic Profile-------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ii
Trends in Selected Health Indicators-------------------------------------------- --------- iii
Bullying-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Unintentional Injury and Violence--------------------------------------------------------- 2
Psychological Health----------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 3
Substance Abuse--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- 4
Physical Activity ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Weight Management and Nutrition------------------- ----------------------------------- 6
Sexual Behavior------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- 7
Selected Health Conditions------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Developmental Assets--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
2011 New Questions---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Academics and Health Behaviors --------------------------------------------------------- 13
Bullying on School Property
In 2009 the Centers for Disease Control
modified questions on bullying. Current
questions exclude the term harassment while
adding a definition for bullying. Due to these
changes in survey questions, caution should be
used in comparing 2007 data with other years
of information.
•
•
The percentage of teens who reported
being bullied on school property decreased
from 20% in 2007 to 16% in 2013.
Being bullied or teased because of physical
appearance and/ or race remained steady
from 2009 to 2011.
•
Despite declines in reports of bulling on
school property, 50% of teens agree or
strongly agree that harassment and bullying
by other teens is a problem at their school.
•
Almost 10% of teens reported being bullied
because someone thought they were gay,
lesbian or bisexual. This was a new
question in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
survey for 2011 and there is no NC
comparison.
Figure 1. Bullying and Harassment
60%
2007
2009
50%
2011
2013
51% 50%
45%
40%
40%
30%
20%
19%
20%
16%
16%
16%
12%
10%
14%
18%18%18%
10%
0%
Bullied on school
property
Electronically bullied
Victim of teasing
because of race or
ethnicity
Bullying and Harassment
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Been bullied on school property in the past 12 months
20%
16%
19%
16%
Have been the victim of teasing or name calling because of
their weight, size, or physical appearance in the past month
21%
27%
28%
N/A
Have been the victim of teasing or name calling because of
their race or ethnic background in the past month
14%
18%
18%
18%
N/A
12%
16%
10%
N/A
N/A
12%
10%
40%
45%
51%
50%
Have been electronically bullied, such as through email, chat
rooms, instant messaging, Web sites, or text messaging in
the past month
Have ever been the victim of teasing or name calling during
the past 12 months because someone thought they were
gay, lesbian, or bisexual
Agree or strongly agree that harassment and bullying by
other students is a problem at their school
Identified harassment
and bullying by other
students as a problem
at their school
Unintentional Injury and Violence
In 2013 dating and intimate partner violence
questions were modified to include persons
teens were dating or going out with on one or
more times during the past 12 months. Prior
to this time, dating/intimate partner violence
was surveyed through abuse perpetrated by
boyfriends or girlfriends of teens. Due to
these changes, data from 2007 through 2011
are not directly comparable to 2013.
•
Teens reporting never or rarely wearing a
seat belt while riding in a car decreased
from 11% in 2011 to 7% in 2013.
•
Having been threatened or injured with a
weapon on school property during the
past year significantly increased from 6.4%
in 2007 to 10.2% in 2011. Declines were
noted for 2013 (8%).
•
Nearly 39% teens reported either texting
or emailing while driving a car or other
vehicle within the past month.
Figure 2. Unintentional Injury and Violence
60%
2007
2009
2011
2013
50%
40%
30%
20%
11%
10%
9% 8%
7%
8%
7% 6%
8%
6%
8%
14%
11%12%
10%
8%
0%
Never or Rarely
wore a seat belt
•
Drove a car when
Threatened or
Physically hurt on
had been drinking injured by weapon purpose by boy/girl
friend
Domestic violence among teens remains an issue of
concern. In 2013, 9% of teens reported being
physically hurt by someone they were dating or going
out with one or more times in the past 12 months.
Unintentional Injury and Violence
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
9%
8%
11%
7%
22%
23%
24%
24%
7%
6%
8%
8%
17%
14%
16%
13%
25%
30%
30%
N/A
6%
8%
10%
8%
Been in a physical fight in the past 12 months
30%
31%
32%
26%
Physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend in
the past 12 months
11%
12%
14%
N/A
Did not go to school because they felt unsafe at school or on
their way to or from school in the past month
5%
5%
8%
7%
Never or rarely wore a seat belt when riding in a car driven
by someone else
Rode in a car driven by someone who had been drinking
alcohol in the past month
Drove a car or other vehicle when they had been drinking
alcohol in the past month
Carried a weapon such as a gun, knife, club in the past
month
Someone stolen or deliberately damaged your property such
as your car, clothing, or books on school property in the past
12 months
Had been threatned or injured by a weapon in the past 12
months
Psychological Health
•
Nearly 30% of teens reported not doing
some regular activities during the past year
because they felt sad or hopeless almost
every day for two weeks or more in a row.
This trend has remained relatively stable
since 2007.
Figure 3.Psychological Health
60%
2007
2009
2011
2013
50%
40%
•
•
•
Teens reporting that they considered
attempting suicide increased from 12% in
2007 to 15% in 2013.
Making a plan to attempt suicide also
increased from 10.3% in 2007 to 14% in
2013.
Actual suicide attempts by teens climbed to
15.3% in 2011 but declined to 8% in 2013.
30%
20%
12%
14% 15% 15%
13% 14%
13% 14%
10% 10%
15%
8%
10%
0%
Considered attempting
suicide
Psychological Health
Made a plan how to
attempt suicide
Attempted suicide
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or
more in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities
during the past 12 months
28%
28%
30%
29%
Seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12
months
12%
14%
15%
15%
Made a plan about how they would attempt suicide in the
past 12 months
10%
10%
13%
14%
Attempted suicide one or more times in the past 12 months
13%
14%
15%
8%
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORT
Substance Abuse



Marijuana use increased significantly
among teens from 2007 to 2013. Over a
quarter of teens report having ever used
marijuana.
Approximately 33% of teens reported
having being offered, sold or given drugs on
school property, down from about 38% in
2011.
Binge drinking among teens decreased
slightly between 2007 and 2009 (16% to
14%), but increased again in 2013 (17%).
Figure 4. Substance Abuse
60%
50%
2007
2009
2011
2013
38% 38%
40%
32%
30%
20%
33%
28% 29%
16% 14%
16%
20%
21%
17%
10%
0%
Binge Drinking
Marijuana Use
Offered, sold, or given
drugs on school
property
Substance Abuse
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Smoked cigarettes on one or more days in the past 30 days
15%
13%
14%
10%
Had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more days in the
past 30 days
34%
33%
34%
34%
Had 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row within a couple of
hours (binge drinking) in the past month
16%
14%
16%
17%
Used marijuana one or more times in the past month
20%
21%
28%
29%
Sniffed glue, breathed the contents of aerosol spray cans, or
inhaled any paints or sprays to get high one or more times
during their life
12%
11%
12%
10%
Offered, sold, or given an illegal drug by someone on school
property in the past 12 months
32%
38%
38%
33%
4
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
Physical Activity



The percentage of teens who reported
being physically active for 60 minutes per
day on five out of seven days increased
from about 40% in 2011 to 45% in 2013.
Nearly 40% of teens reported playing video
or computer games for something that was
not school work three or more hours per
day on an average school day in 2013, an
increase from 2007 (20.2%)
Over one third of teens reported watching
three or more hours of TV per day on an
average school day.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORT
Figure 5.Physical Activity
60%
50%
2007
2009
2011
2013
45%
43% 43%
40%
40%
40%
34%
30%
26%
20%
20%
10%
0%
Physically active for 60 minutes/day five Played video or computer games outside
out of seven days
of school work three or more hours per
day on an average school day
Physical Activity
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Physically active for a total of 60 minutes or more per day on
five or more of the past seven days
43%
43%
40%
45%
Attended physical education (PE) classes on one or more
days in an average week when they are in school
40%
46%
36%
40%
Attended physical education (PE) classes daily in an average
week when they are in school
22%
26%
18%
19%
Played video or computer games or used a computer for
something that was not school work three or more hours per
day on an average school day
20%
26%
34%
40%
Watched three or more hours per day of TV on an average
school day
37%
42%
37%
37%
5
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORT
Weight Management and Nutrition


The percentage of teens that are
overweight and those who are obese
declined slightly between from 2011 to
2013.
Body weight perception is an important
predictor of weight control behaviors
among teenagers. Teens who incorrectly
judge their body weight may practice
unhealthy weight control measures to lose
weight or place themselves at greater risk
for obesity.
Figure 6. Weight Management and Nutrition
60%
50%
2007
2009
2011
2013
44%
40%
o
According to BMI data, 14% of
teens were reported as being
overweight. However, 27% of teens
described themselves as slightly or
very overweight.
45%
40%
30%
20%
24%
17% 17% 15%
14%
10%
10%
o
42%
12%
13%
28% 26% 27%
12%
0%
Overweight
Obese
Described
themselves as
overweight
45% of teens reported that they are
trying to lose weight.
Weight Management
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Overweight (at or above the 85th percentile but below the
95th percentile for body mass index, by age and sex)
17%
17%
15%
14%
Obese (at or above the 95th percentile for body mass index,
by age and sex)
10%
11%
13%
12%
Described themselves as slightly or very overweight
24%
28%
26%
27%
Are trying to lose weight
40%
44%
42%
45%
6
Trying to lose
weight
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORT
Sexual Behavior




Approximately half of all teens reported
ever having sexual intercourse.
In 2013, 16% of teens reported having had
sexual intercourse with four or more people
in their lifetime. This was a decrease, down
from 20% in 2011.
Having consumed alcohol before sexual
intercourse greatly increased from 15% in
2007 to 27% in 2013.
Two new Sexual Behavior questions were
added to the survey: teen sexual
orientation and teens having sex with
partners 3 or more years older.
Figure 7.Sexual Behavior
60%
50%
2007
2009
2011
2013
40%
30%
26%
17%
20%
20%
16%
16%
15%
10%
0%
Had sex with four or more people
o
Just over 14% of teens who have
had sex reported having a partner
who was 3 or more years their
senior the last time they had sexual
intercourse.
o
Nearly 9% of teens described
themselves as gay, lesbian or
bisexual.
27%
19%
Drank alcohol before sex
Sexual Behavior
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Ever had sexual intercourse
47%
50%
50%
46%
Had sexual intercourse with one or more people during the
past three months
33%
35%
35%
31%
Had sexual intercourse with four or more people during their
lifetime
16%
17%
20%
16%
Drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse
15%
19%
26%
27%
7
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORT
Selected Health Conditions

In 2013 about 23% of teens reported ever
being told that they have asthma. This was
an increase from 2007 when the percentage
was 18.1%.
Figure 8. Selected Health Conditions
60%
2007
2009
2011
2013
50%
40%

The percentage of teens that saw a doctor
or nurse within the past 12 months for a
physical or check-up (without being sick)
increased from 61% to 64% between 2007
and 2011.
30%
24%
18%
20%
19%
23%
23%
21%
21%
18%
10%

The percent of teens reporting 8 or more
hours of sleep on an average school night
has declined from 23% in 2007 to 18% in
2013.
0%
Ever been told you have asthma
Get 8 or more hours of sleep on an
average school night
Selected Health Conditions
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Ever been told by a doctor or nurse that they had asthma
18%
19%
24%
23%
Last saw a doctor or nurse during the past 12 months for a
check-up or physical exam when they were not sick or
injured
61%
62%
64%
N/A
Last saw a dentist during the past 12 months for a check-up,
exam, teeth cleaning or other dental work
66%
67%
N/A
N/A
8
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORT
Developmental Assets
Developmental assets are the experiences and
opportunities that all young people need to
grow into healthy, responsible adults.
Research has shown that the more assets young
people, the less likely they are to engage in
high-risk behaviors.

The percentage of teens who reported
being alone after school without a parent or
trusted adult three or more hours per day
on an average school day increased slightly
from 33% in 2007 to almost 35% in 2013.

In 2013, about 81% of teens reported that
their parents or other adults in the teens’
family have clear rules and standards for
the teens’ behavior.

Over 60% of teens described their grades as
mostly A’s and B’s during the past year.
Figure 9.Developmental Assets
100%
2007
2009
85%
90%
80%
2011
2013
87%
77% 81%
70%
63%
60% 58%
55%
60%
50%
40%
33% 33%
37%
35%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Are alone after school
Agree/strongly agree that Received grades of mostly
without a parent/trusted
parents/other adults
A's & B's in school
adult 3 or more hours/day instudents' family have
on an average school day clear rules & standards for
students' behavior
Developmental Assets
2007
Meck
2009
Meck
2011
Meck
2013
Meck
Are alone after school without a parent or trusted adult three
or more hours per day on an average school day
33%
33%
37%
35%
Agree/Strongly Agree that their parents or other adults in
the student's family have clear rules and standards for the
student's behavior
85%
87%
77%
81%
Agree or strongly agree that in their community they feel like
they matter to people
46%
42%
53%
N/A
Get eight or more hours of sleep on an average school night
23%
23%
21%
18%
Ate breakfast on seven of the past seven days
33%
34%
N/A
35%
Describe their grades as mostly A's and B's during the past
year
60%
58%
55%
63%
Definitely/Probably will complete a post high school program
such as a vocational training program, military service,
community college, or 4-year college
88%
82%
83%
N/A
9
Charlotte-Mecklenburg
HIGH SCHOOL Students
New Questions for 2013 YRBS
New Questions for 2013 YRBS
Charlotte-Mecklenburg High Schools
Unintentional Injury and Violence
Had been physically hurt on purpose by someone they were
dating or going out with one or more times during the past 12
months
Had been forced by someone they were dating or going out with
to do sexual things that they did not want to one or more times
during the past 12 months
8.8%
8.9%
Psychological
Made a suicide attempt during the past 12 months that resulted
in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a
doctor or nurse
Sexual Behavior
Among students who have had sexual intercourse, % whose
partners were 3 or more years older than themselves the last
time they had sexual intercourse
14.1%
Describe themselves as gay or lesbian or bisexual
8.7%
2.1%
NOTES:
The above questions were added to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School survey in 2013. These
questions were added locally; North Carolina or United States data do not exist for
comparison.
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPORT
Charlotte-Mecklenburg
HIGH SCHOOL Students
Health Behaviors and Academics
12
Health
Behaviors
and Academic
HIGH
SCHOOL
STUDENT
REPORT
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
Figure 1.Physical Activity & Nutrition
51.0%
Physcially active for at least 60 min
per day on five or more days in the
past week
45.5%
43.9%
25.1%
15.6%
Watched 3 or more hours of TV per
day on an average school day
A's
B's
C's
D's/F's
39.2%
47.8%
50.8%
Played video/computer games or
used a computer for something that
was not school work 3 or more
hours per day on an average school
day
28.8%
41.7%
45.9%
37.2%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Figure 2.Assets for Health Development
17.7%
Get 8 or more hours of sleep on an
average school night
20.3%
A's
B's
C's
D's/F's
15.2%
8.5%
82.5%
School has clear
rules/consequences for behavior
81.3%
70.0%
58.2%
84.4%
Parents/Other adults in their family
have clear rules/consequences for
their behavior
85.0%
76.2%
66.6%
0%
20%
40%
13
60%
80%
100%
Health
Behaviors
andREPORT
Academic
HIGH
SCHOOL
STUDENT
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
Figure 3. Unintentional Injury & Violence
5.0%
5.0%
12.8%
23.2%
Never/rarely wore a seat belt when
riding in a car
A's
B's
C's
D's/F's
18.3%
22.1%
28.5%
33.4%
Rode in a car driven by someone who
had been drinking alcohol
23.5%
26.4%
29.7%
Ever carried a weapon, such as a
gun, knife, or club
48.2%
39.1%
58.1%
69.2%
74.8%
Ever been in a physical fight
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Figure 4.Psychological
19.7%
Felt so sad or hopeless almost
every day for 2+ weeks that they
stopped doing some usual activities
A's
B's
C's
D's/F's
32.1%
32.1%
38.1%
4.9%
5.6%
Attempted suicide one or more
times in the past year
9.1%
23.9%
0%
10%
20%
14
30%
40%
50%
Health
Behaviors
and Academic
HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT
REPORT and Academics
Health
Behaviors
2013 Charlotte-Mecklenburg YRBS
Figure 5.Substance Abuse
18.2%
Had five or more drinks of alcohol
within a couple of hours
15.5%
A's
B's
C's
D's/F's
13.7%
28.2%
31.2%
48.3%
Use marijuana
60.5%
73.0%
26.9%
Offered, sold or given an illegal
drug by someone on school
property
29.3%
37.6%
54.0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Figure 6. Sexual Behavior
24.7%
A's
B's
C's
D's/F's
45.6%
Ever had sexual intercourse
59.3%
71.0%
66.8%
74.7%
Used a condom during last sexual
intercourse
68.1%
36.6%
0%
20%
40%
15
60%
80%