CT School Health Survey—

Family, Social Support Vital In Protecting

Youth From Risky Behaviors

HARTFORD — The Department of Public Health (DPH) in partnership with the State Department of Education (CSDE) released the results of the 2009 Connecticut School Health Survey June 3. The latest survey found that family and social support were fundamental in protecting youth from risky behaviors including suicide, drug and alcohol use, and sexual activity.

“New survey data continue to demonstrate the importance of families in helping youth avoid risky behaviors. Connecticut youth who have supportive adults in their lives are less likely to consider suicide, drink alcohol, drink and drive, smoke tobacco, use drugs or experience sexual activity,” said DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, MD, MPH, MBA.

CSDE Commissioner Mark K. McQuillan noted that while many students reported involvement in risky behaviors, such as smoking or drinking, the survey provides evidence that parental involvement has a strong influence on students’ behaviors.

“This survey tells us that the attention and concern of caring adults makes a difference in teenagers’ lives,” said Commissioner McQuillan. “Parents and teachers can have a great deal of influence on young people in making positive choices in their lives.

“Students who say that their families provide them with love and support are approximately 30 percent less likely to drink alcohol, binge drink, have sex, or be depressed. Students with supportive families are 50 percent less likely to smoke cigarettes, experience dating violence or smoke marijuana, and are five times less likely to report having attempted suicide,” Commissioner McQuillan stated. He also noted that “students’ health is inextricably linked to academic success and it is vital that schools, families, and communities partner to support students in making healthy and responsible choices.”

The survey also points out some of the difficulties students encounter when they experience bullying. One in four students said they had been bullied or harassed during the past 12 months, with ninth graders being more likely (35 percent) than twelfth graders (18 percent) to have been bullied.

Students who say they have been bullied are more likely to get less sleep, have property stolen at school, miss school because they feel unsafe, carry a weapon to school, experience dating violence, be depressed, and attempt suicide.

“Schools take the issue of bullying and harassment very seriously and are working diligently to ensure that safe and healthy learning environments are in place to protect students,” said Commissioner McQuillan. “Open communication between parents, students, and teachers can help to stop bullying. Our focus must be on providing a positive school climate conducive to understanding, support, and respect in our schools.”

According to the survey, some encouraging signs have been seen since 1997, including an increase in seatbelt use, a decrease in drinking and driving, a decrease in tobacco use, and a decrease in use of inhalants to get high. Connecticut youth are also involved in many positive activities.

Most youth (67 percent) report being involved in after school activities, 48 percent report volunteer activities, 26 percent work at a paying job, and 64 percent report eating at least one meal with their family on at least three days during the past week.

Supportive adult involvement in student lives remains a strong factor in reducing the possibility of unhealthy behaviors. Students who say their parents usually know where they are, eat meals with their family, and agree that their family loves and supports them are less likely to get into fights, smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs, be sexually active, be depressed, or attempt suicide.

Students, however, face many obstacles as well — 28 percent of students report being in a physical fight, seven percent report being threatened with a weapon, ten percent report being physically hurt by their boyfriend or girlfriend, during the past year. Also, during the past year, 25 percent report being depressed, and seven percent report having attempted suicide.

New questions in 2009 asked about verbal abuse, absenteeism, family environment, and prescription drug use. Seventeen percent of students report verbal abuse from their boyfriend or girlfriend and approximately ten percent of students used prescription medication without a doctor’s prescription to get high.

The survey is administered in two sections in Connecticut: the Youth Tobacco Component (YTC) and the Youth Behavior Component (YBC). The YTC is a comprehensive survey of tobacco use, access, cessation, knowledge and attitudes, and exposure among Connecticut students in grades 6–12; the YBC is intended to monitor priority public health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States.

Nationally, the YBC is called the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results from the national YRBS June 3. National and Connecticut results can be viewed at: www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm

In 2009, 4,616 middle and high school students completed the YTC and 2,392 youth completed the YBC. Both components met the CDC criteria to be considered representative of high school students in Connecticut (and middle school students for the YTC).

To view more results from the Connecticut School Health Survey, please visit: www.ct.gov/dph/cshs.