2009 fairfax county youth survey

Fairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth Survey 1

October 26, 2010Revised December 8, 2010

2009 Fairfax County Youth Survey


• The 2009 Fairfax County Youth Survey was completed…

2009 Fairfax Youth Survey Participation

Overall, 81% response rate of Fairfax County 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students

By 42,582 students in…

21 high schools

22 middle schools

4 alternative schools

126 elementary schools

4 secondary schools


Survey Forms

Riskand

Protective Factor

Survey (even years)

Core

6th Grade

Shorter

Simpler

6th grade

8th, 10th, & 12th grade

Two Surveys

Healthy Behaviors

Survey(odd years)

Adapted from the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey


• Involved in Extracurricular Activities • Academic Success

• High Personal Integrity • Control of Outcomes

• Involved in Community Service

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 1 2 3 4 5

Number of Assets

Per

cen

t w

ith

Neg

ativ

e B

ehav

iors

Sex (ever)

Alcohol use (30 days)

Attacked someone (1 yr)

Marijuana use (30 days)

Cigarettes (30 days)

Binge drinking (2 wks)

Gang member (ever)

Three to Succeed


Countywide Prevention System Goal:Children are Physically Fit with Good Nutritional Habits

Student Achievement Goal:

Students will Make Safe and Healthy Life Choices

Nutrition, Physical Activity,and Use of Free Time


Results for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Use of Free Time

• Over 20% of Fairfax County youth are physically active for at least 60 minutes every day

• Physical activity and eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day decreases as youth get older– 6th graders report that 29% eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day

and 52% get at least 60 minutes of physical activity for 5 of the last seven days

– 12th graders report 22% and 32%, respectively

• 20% of 12th graders did not get at least 60 minutes of physical activity on a single day of the week


Results for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Use of Free Time

• More than one in five Fairfax County teens report 5+ hours of screen time per day

• Fairfax County youth report getting less sleep than their peers nationally

• 90% of Fairfax County youth participate in extracurricular activities


Countywide Prevention System Goal:Children and Youth are Safe from Violence and Bullying

Student Achievement Goals: Students will Possess the Skills to Manage and Resolve Conflict

Students will Act Responsibly Toward Others

Bullying, Cyberbullying,Aggressive Behaviors, Dating Violence


Bullying

• Bullying is more common in early grades

• 13% of 6th graders reported being bullied, taunted, ridiculed, or teased at least once a week. Of those students, 44% reported a daily occurrence

• Youth who report being victims of frequent or chronic bullying are more likely to report that they: – Have used drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes – Were depressed– Have considered suicide or attempted suicide– Have carried a weapon


Percent Reporting Bullying

27

58

4944

48

60

4944

0

20

40

60

80

100

6th 8th 10th 12th

Aggressor Victim

Approximately half of Fairfax County youth have been bullied in the past year


Percent Reporting Cyberbullying at Their School

712 10 8

13 14 12 9

0

20

40

60

80

100

6th 8th 10th 12th

Aggressor Victim

This is the first year the youth survey has included questions on cyberbullying

Fewer students reported being aggressorsthan being victims


Percent Reporting that Someone said Something Bad About their Race or Culture

54

31

31

44

52

43

58

5351

0

20

40

60

80

100

2001 2005 2008 2009

Overall African American Asian/Pacific IslanderHispanic or Latino Other/Multiple White


Dating Violence

3 5 614

2126

4 712

0

20

40

60

80

100

8th 10th 12th

Know Whereabouts Verbal Abuse Physical Abuse

There was a slight decrease in reports of physical abuse since the 2008 survey

This is the first year “always needing to know your whereabouts”

and “verbal abuse” questions were asked on the youth survey


Dating Violence

865 654

0

20

40

60

80

100

8th 10th 12thPressured to Have Sex Forced to Have Sex

There was little change in reports of Fairfax County youthbeing physically forced to have sex and remains

slightly below the national average

This is the first year “Being pressured to have sex” was asked on the youth survey


GangsPercent Who Have Ever Been in a Gang

44346

0

20

40

60

80

100

2001 2003 2005 2008 2009

96% of youth report that they have never been in a gang


Countywide Prevention System Goal:Children and Youth are Mentally Well

Mental Health and Unhealthy Weight Loss Behaviors


Percent of Youth Reporting Selected Mental Health Experiences

4

28

146

14

26

0

20

40

60

80

100

Depression Considered Suicide Attempted Suicide

Fairfax National

Although Fairfax youth report lower rates of depression than 2008, rates are still

higher than youth nationally


Depression/Considered Suicide by Race/Ethnicity

2838

3324

30

0

20

40

60

80

100

AfricanAmerican

Asian/Pacif icIslander

Hispanic orLatino

Other orMultiple

White

Depressed Considered Suicide

Similar to national trends, races/ethnicities other than White are more likely to report feeling

depressed and considering suicide


Unhealthy Weight Loss Behaviors

• In the last 30 days, 10% of all youth report at least one of the following behaviors:

– going 24+ hours without eating to lose weight/keep from gaining weight

– vomiting or taking laxatives– taking diet pills, powders, or liquids without

doctor’s orders

• This represents 13% of females and 7% of males


Sexual Behavior

FCPS Student Achievement Goal:

Students Make Healthy and Safe Life Choices


Percent of Youth Who Engage in Sexual Behavior

14

33

53

0

20

40

60

80

100

8th 10th 12th

67% of Fairfax County teens have not engaged in sexual behavior (oral sex or sexual intercourse)


Countywide Prevention System Goal:Children and Youth are Free From Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other

Drugs (ATOD)

Student Achievement Goal: Students will Make Safe and Healthy Life Choices

Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, and Inhalants


36

24

13

18

9

13 12

0

20

40

60

2001 2003 2005 2008 2009

Alcohol Binge Drinking Cigarettes Marijuana

Substance Use TrendsPercent Who Used in Last 30 Days

Last 30 day drug use has continued a downward trend for all substances except marijuana, which

increased by almost two percentage points


Alcohol Percent Who Used in Last 30 Days

310

22

39

15

44

30

0

20

40

60

80

100

6th 8th 10th 12th

Fairfax National

Alcohol consumption increases with age, but continues to be below the national average

12th grade use remains high


Percent Reporting Binge Drinking Five or more drinks in one sitting in the past 2 weeks

411

23

817

31

0

20

40

60

80

100

2001 2003 2005 2008 2009

8th grade 10th grade 12th grade

Binge drinking remained relatively stable, but still common among 12th graders


Age of Onset for Use of Alcohol Percent age 12 or younger at first use

3431

403737

0

20

40

60

80

100

2001 2003 2005 2008 2009

Youth (who have tried alcohol) first trying alcohol at age 12 or younger has increased

3 percentage points since 2008


Marijuana Percent Who Used in Last 30 Days

412

20

7

2116

0

20

40

60

80

100

6th 8th 10th 12th

Fairfax National

Marijuana use increases with age, but is below the national average

<1%


SmokingPercent Who Used in Last 30 Days

1320

74

9 915 15

30

0

20

40

60

80

100

2001 2003 2005 2008 2009 National2009

8th grade 10th grade 12th grade

The downward trend in smoking has leveled off for all grades, but still well

below the national average

Fairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth Survey

Inhalant Use – % Used in the last 30 days

35

3 24

2 10

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

6th 8th 10th 12th

Fairfax National

Unlike other drugs, inhalant use decreases with age. Fairfax County youth’s inhalant use is above

the national average

29

Fairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth SurveyFairfax County Youth Survey30

• Involved in Extracurricular Activities • Academic Success

• High Personal Integrity • Control of Outcomes

• Involved in Community Service

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 1 2 3 4 5

Number of Assets

Per

cen

t w

ith

Neg

ativ

e B

ehav

iors

Sex (ever)

Alcohol use (30 days)

Attacked someone (1 yr)

Marijuana use (30 days)

Cigarettes (30 days)

Binge drinking (2 wks)

Gang member (ever)

Three to Succeed


Recommendations

Continue the commitment and collaborative approach to prevention and intervention to ensure downward trends in depression, obesity, substance use, and other risky behaviors while encouraging the increase of protective factors

and healthy behaviors in Fairfax County youth.

Integrate more fully county, school, and community resources and strategies to tackle issues facing our youth.

Create a comprehensive county and school-wide plan that addresses nutrition, physical activity, and screen-time from a program, practice, and policy

perspective. Create a similar plan for bullying and violence prevention.

Use data on risk and protective factors to ensure prevention-based approaches in treatment and intervention programs across disciplines. Develop annual

performance measures based on survey data and other data available in the community.


How Do I Learn More

A full report is available for download at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey

Questions?

[email protected]

2009 fairfax county youth survey

Education