Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is funded by Emerson Health as part of our Community Benefits Program to help us understand the health issues experienced by public school students in our region.
Overview
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) helps us understand the health issues experienced by public school students in our region. It is coordinated by Market Street Research in Northampton, Mass., and has been conducted every two years since 1997.
Emerson’s YRBS surveys 6th and 8th-grade and high school students. Ten public school districts participated in the March 2024 survey, totaling 7,885 students. The following school districts distributed the survey to their students: Acton-Boxborough, Ayer-Shirley, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord and Concord-Carlisle High School, Groton-Dunstable, Harvard, Littleton, Maynard, and Nashoba Regional.
Highlights
Emerson’s 2026 YRBS revealed several encouraging trends in student experiences and behaviors, as well as areas where additional support may be needed. Please note that these results reflect aggregate survey responses. You may contact your school system directly to view the results for your specific school.
Feeling supported by friends and family
Rates of feeling supported by friends increased among middle school students, and 8th-grade students reported greater feelings of support from family than in prior years.
Feeling safe at school and having trusted adults
Feelings of safety at school increased among 8th-grade and high school students. More students also reported having an adult at school they can talk to, and rates of seeking out a trusted adult when they need help increased across all grade levels.
Knowing where to go for help
Most students reported knowing where to seek help for a serious problem, and rates of not knowing where to turn for help decreased over the past four years.
Handling stressful events and mental health
Students reported greater resilience in managing stressful events, with rates of having difficulty handling stress decreasing over time. Rates of depression, self-harm, and seriously considering suicide also declined, particularly among 8th-grade and high school students.
Parental involvement in cellphone and social media use
Parental monitoring of cellphone and social media use increased across all grade levels. At the same time, students reported lower rates of spending excessive time on visual technology, maintaining undisclosed social media accounts, experiencing unwanted online contact, and finding themselves in risky situations because of information shared online.
Substance use
Rates of vaping, marijuana use, and alcohol use continued to decline. High school students also reported lower rates of driving after drinking alcohol or using marijuana, riding in a vehicle driven by someone under the influence, and driving while using a phone without a hands-free option.
Bullying and school safety concerns
Younger students continued to report higher rates of bullying, being threatened with or injured by a weapon on school property, and not feeling safe at school compared to older students.
Sleep and well-being
Rates of students getting seven hours or less of sleep on school nights declined across all grade groups, although older students continued to report less sleep than younger students.
The findings help school administrators establish health promotion goals, develop programs to reduce risky behaviors, and identify opportunities to strengthen student well-being. The data also inform Emerson Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment and support local school districts in implementing initiatives related to mental health, social connectedness, and student safety.
Since Emerson Health began conducting the Youth Risk Behavior Survey nearly 30 years ago, participating school districts have used the data to expand mental health supports, establish peer and affinity groups, provide professional development for staff, and create programs that address the diverse needs of students and their communities. The data also inform Emerson Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment and support strategic programming initiatives related to mental health, social connectedness, and student safety.
A Note About Survey Questions
School leaders and the professional research team thoughtfully select survey questions to measure existing health risks and identify emerging trends. Each school district’s leaders review and approve the questions before students take the survey and inform parents about the survey in advance. Parents are invited to preview all questions by requesting a link to the survey and can choose to have their child(ren) opt out of the survey.
If you have any questions about your school district’s YRBS or want to see the results from a specific school, please contact your school administration office directly.
Thank you to all the school districts and students who participated in the 2024 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Impact of the Pandemic on Youth Risk Behavior
In March 2021, Acton-Boxborough, Groton-Dunstable, and Maynard school districts collaborated with Emerson Hospital to understand the social and behavioral impacts of COVID-19. Nearly 2,500 students from these three districts completed the COVID Response Survey. The questionnaire covered most of the topics included in the 2020 YRBS and new items, specifically about students’ perspectives on how the pandemic has affected them.
Inquiries
For any inquiries about Emerson Health Community Programs, get in touch by filling out the inquiry form.