Results of recent state and federal surveys of health- and risk-related behavior among Seattle Public Schools middle and high school students provide a snapshot of how kids are fairing on everything from drug use, sexual behavior and television usage to levels of fruit and vegetable consumption.
The state-funded Healthy Youth Survey is taken every two years by students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 and focuses on attitudes and health risk behaviors. Topics students respond to include gangs, physical activity, suicide, bullying and drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. 2010 was the first year that the survey also asked about sexual activity.
The federally-funded Youth Risk Behavior Survey, also conducted every two years, surveys students in grades 9-12, with a focus on health risk behaviors that result in unintentional injuries and violence. Those include tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to HIV infection; other sexually transmitted diseases; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. The survey does not ask about attitudes, beliefs, or risk and protective factors.
Both surveys were voluntary and anonymous, and were conducted at SPS high schools and middle schools in October 2010. Results were released in mid-May at a school district roundtable meeting.
The studies provide valuable data to help parents and this district identify and raise awareness around risky behaviors, says Lisa Sharp, Seattle Public Schools Health Intervention Specialist. “Parents should look at the survey results and know that these issues could be a part of their own child’s life. The great news is that there is a lot that a parent can do to help their child make healthy choices.”
Among the survey results:
- Alcohol and cigarette use among middle and high school students in Seattle Public Schools has declined during the past two years, while marijuana use has increased among eighth-grade students.
- The rate of SPS high school students who report carrying a weapon to school has risen from 6 percent in 2008 to 8 percent in 2010, and the percentage of high school students making a plan to commit suicide has also increased, from 8 percent in 2008 to 12 percent in 2010.
- The percentage of eighth-grade students who engage in 60-plus minutes of physical activity five or more days per week increased from 34 percent in 2008 to 47 percent 2010.
- Television watching also declined high school students, dropping from 28 percent in 2008 to 23 percent in 2010.
- During the first year of asking questions about sexual activity, 30 percent of high school students said they have had sexual intercourse in their lifetime, and 58 percent of sexually active teens reported using a condom at last intercourse.
“While we have seen improvements in many areas, we have also seen areas of concern in others,” Sharp cautions.
“It is difficult to give an overall picture of progress considering these surveys cover several different risk areas,” she adds. “We are proud of the healthy decisions our students are making – there has been a decrease in alcohol and cigarette use, a decrease in the number of kids riding in a car with a drinking driver, and an increase in physical activity. These are areas where we can be proud of the progress made.
“There are also areas where we see a need for increased intervention,” says Sharp. “For instance, we have not seen an improvement in our rates of bullying and cyber-bullying at school since 2008, and we are seeing an increase in suicide planning among our high school students. Seattle Public Schools is working on prevention and intervention strategies to meet the health needs of our students, including classroom education, parent and family engagement, and connecting with outside resources.”
Sharp encourages parents to use the survey results as encouragement to connect and communicates with their kids.
First, she says, parents should prepare to talk with their kids.
“Do some research – there is a great list of links for families on the Seattle Public Schools website covering these subjects,” she says. “Use this information to clarify your own family values and rules before talking with your children. You can influence your teenager’s behavior, particularly if you are armed with the facts.
The second step is to talk with kids, Sharp advises.
“And not just once, this needs to be an ongoing conversation. Just as you inoculate your kids against illnesses, you can help immunize them against risky behaviors by giving them facts and skills before they’re in a risky situation,” she stresses. “Kids who aren’t properly informed are at greater risk of engaging in unsafe behaviors and experimenting with drugs. Tell them what your family values are around healthy choices and set guidelines and rules for your children to follow. Set clear rules and discuss in advance the consequences of breaking them.”
Finally Sharp, parents should watch and listen to their children:
“Check in with them, talk to them about their lives and the choices they are making, know who their friends are and where they go after school. Ensure that they are following the guidelines and rules that you have set for your family. The more involved you are in your child’s life the more protected they will be.”
