October 10, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
The anonymous Youth Risk Behavior Survey is administered every other year to all 7th, 9th and 11th grade students asking them a wide variety of questions about health behaviors — including diet, exercise, drug and alcohol use, sexual activity, mental health, violence, and safety.
The YRBS, designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a tool used by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to collect health data statewide.
“The data collected through YRBS is used to monitor trends in youth behaviors and to inform health programs and policies,” School Committee Chair Nes Correnti told the Hingham Anchor.
While there has been a slight decline in certain trends of marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol use among students in recent years, “a notable level of usage persists among our young population. These behaviors continue to pose significant health risks to our children,” she said. “Another troubling pattern is the increase in stress, anxiety, apprehension, and emotions of sadness or despair among the student population. The mental health struggles observed in recent years are disconcerting. Our schools have prevention and support programs in place for students.”
The School Committee recently heard an update on the results of the 2023 anonymous Youth Risk Behavior Survey administered to Hingham Middle/ High School students.
The survey is instrumental in shaping health, physical education, and counseling curricula and helps the district design programs that meet students’ unique needs.
Also, data collection is a requirement in federal grant applications by which the district can obtain funds to support the above curriculum areas. The survey results also help Hingham Public Schools evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of programs that are implemented and provide a way to compare local results to other districts and the state as a whole.
As an example of the information that resulted from the 2023 survey, mental health data collected indicates:
- an increase since 2019 in the number of students in all three grades reporting that they worry/can’t control worrying about minor things as well as avoiding doing things because they feel anxious.
- Among juniors, there were slightly reduced rates of feeling sad/hopeless and of suicide ideation, while grade 9 and 7 student rates are similar or higher to 2019 data.
- Rates of feeling sad/hopeless and suicide ideation in Hingham are much lower than the overall state data.
- HPS students are not getting enough sleep, which is a protective factor (a condition or attribute that helps people deal more effectively with stressful events and reduce the effects of risk, stress, or trauma).
- HPS students feel connected and have adults with whom they can talk.
The HPS and community offer opportunities for students to get involved, meet peers, and participate in healthy activities such as clubs, sports, and volunteering.
Other survey questions related to smoking vs. vaping, drinking and binge drinking, attending parties in the past three months where alcohol was available, access to alcohol, and marijuana use.
Overall impressions of substance use data indicate that
- The rates of having ever vaped, and recent vaping have gone down since 2019.
- Alcohol use remains a concern – including recent and binge drinking and drinking at parties with adults present and aware of the drinking.
At the same time, the overall rates of marijuana and alcohol use have declined slightly in recent years.
Under protective factors, it was noted that 80% of HPS high school students participate in at least one sport and also participate in organized activities after school, at night, and during weekends such as clubs, art/music/drama lessons, and the Rec Center and are involved in volunteer work.
More than 60% of the students surveyed reported that they feel a sense of belonging at school either frequently or all of the time.
About 85% of grade 7 students and 80% of grade 9 and 11 students reported they never or only occasionally feel lonely.
“The information from the survey is valuable for parents and our community,” Correnti said. “We can help our children by ensuring that they are getting enough sleep and maintaining a well-rounded and healthy lifestyle. Having open and honest communication with our children is vital. We can help by communicating our values and guiding them toward a balanced and happy life. ”
To learn more about the survey, go to http://hinghamhealth.weebly.com/youth-risk-behavior-survey.html.
The Wellness Committee Spring 2023 report indicates that 38.8% of Hingham High students do not feel they have an appropriate amount of social, emotional, and academic balance in their school day.
Students overwhelmingly expressed concern over the volume of homework they are required to do outside of the school day and a desire for more mental and social break time during the day, either in the form of longer passing periods, an established break period, or open study halls.
Also expressed by HHS students was the need for adults to be “conscientious about how overwhelmed they feel and to pay attention to the volume of, and emphasis on, academics.”
Next steps for the Wellness Committee include:
- continuing to strengthen supports for social emotional learning needs at all levels;
- sharing the Wellness Committee’s 2023 report with department directors and staff and reviewing HHS homework policies
- developing a school climate and culture survey districtwide;
- building and strengthening the Wellness Committee for this school year including expanding its membership