On This Page
Data Files & Methods
National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data are available in two file formats: Access® and ASCII. The Access and ASCII data can be downloaded and used as is. Additionally, SAS® and SPSS® programs are provided to convert the ASCII data into SAS and SPSS datasets for use in those packages. See How to Use YRBS Data Files for more information.
See the YRBS Data FAQ and the YRBS Data Request Form for information on getting state, district, territory, and tribal government data.
For additional information on SAS and SPSS (and Stata® and Epi Info™ as well), see Software for Analysis of YRBS Data [pdf 429K].
How to Use YRBSS Data Files
Using ASCII Files:- Save the ASCII data file to a folder on your computer.
- Specify column locations for each variable as needed by the software you are using.
Note: How to use the ASCII data varies from one software package to another. Column positions for each variable usually have to be specified. Column positions for each variable can be found in the documentation for each year’s data. Consult your software documentation for more information.
Using SAS Files:- Save the SAS Format Program, SAS Input Program, and the ASCII data files to a folder on your computer.
- Open the SAS Format Program in SAS and edit it according to the instructions included in the comments in the program.
- Run the program. This will create a permanent format library in the folder specified in the SAS program.
- Open the SAS Input Program in SAS and edit it according to the instructions included in the comments in the program.
- Run the program. This will read the ASCII data file and convert it into a permanent SAS dataset for the particular year in the folder specified in the SAS program.
Note: Each year of YRBSS data should go in its own folder because each year has its own format library. Format libraries are not comparable across years. See “How do I use the SAS format library?” in the YRBS FAQs for more information.
Using SPSS Files:- Save the SPSS syntax file and the ASCII data files to a folder on your computer.
- Open the SPSS syntax file in SPSS and edit it according to the instructions included in the comments in the file.
- Run the syntax file. This will read the ASCII data file and convert it into a permanent SPSS data file that includes labels and formats.
- Save the Access file to a folder on your computer.
- Uncompress the Access file.
Note: The file is stored in compressed form to improve download time; it will need to be uncompressed before it can be used. See File Formats Help for more information on uncompressing the file.
Methods
Methodology of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System [pdf 261K]
MMWR 2004;53(RR-12):1–13; also available as HTML or for order
A Guide to Conducting Your Own Youth Risk Behavior Survey [pdf 132K]
Information useful to communities and groups that plan to conduct their own YRBS survey
Interpretation of YRBS Trend Data [pdf 51K]
Guidance on interpreting YRBS trend data analyses
Software for Analysis of YRBS Data [pdf 430K]
A review of software packages suitable for analyzing YRBS data and guidance on how to use them
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions asked about the YRBSS, including results, questionnaire content, validity and reliability, methods, and using the data files
Journal Articles
Brener ND, Billy JOG, Grady WR. Assessment of factors affecting the validity of self-reported health-risk behavior among adolescents: evidence from the scientific literature [pdf
320K]. Journal of Adolescent Health 2003;33:436–457.
Brener ND, Collins JL, Kann L, Warren CW, Williams BI. Reliability of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire. American Journal of Epidemiology 1995;141:575–80.
Brener ND, Grunbaum JA, Kann L, McManus T, Ross J. Assessing health risk behaviors among adolescents: the effect of question wording and appeals for honesty. Journal of Adolescent Health 2004;35:91–100.
Brener ND, Kann L, McManus TL, Kinchen S, Sundberg EC, Ross JG. Reliability of the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Questionnaire [pdf 283K]. Journal of Adolescent Health 2002;31:336–342.
Brener ND, McManus T, Galuska DA, Lowry R, Wechsler H. Reliability and validity of self-reported height and weight among high school students. Journal of Adolescent Health 2003;32:281–287.
Brener ND; Eaton DK, Kann L, et al.
The association of survey setting and mode with self-reported health risk behaviors among high school students [pdf 112K]. Public Opinion Quarterly 2006;70:354–374.
Brener ND, Kann L, McManus T. A comparison of two survey questions on race and ethnicity among high school students. Public Opinion Quarterly 2003;67:227–236.
Eaton DK, Brener ND, Kann L, Pittman V. High school student responses to different question formats assessing race/ethnicity. Journal of Adolescent Health 2007;41:488–494.
Eaton DK, Lowry R, Brener ND, Grunbaum JA, Kann L. Passive versus active parental permission in school-based survey research: does the type of permission affect prevalence estimates of risk behaviors? Evaluation Review 2004;28(6):564–577.
Contact Us:
- Division of Adolescent and School Health
4770 Buford Hwy, NE
MS K29
Atlanta, GA 30341 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
Hours of Operation
8am-8pm
ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
