Nebraska YRBS Results

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is part of the National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System created and managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This statewide survey is designed to monitor categories of health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults, including—

Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence
Alcohol and other drug use
Tobacco use
Unhealthy dietary behaviors
Inadequate physical activity

YRBS also measures the prevalence of obesity and asthma and other health-related behaviors.

All Nebraska public schools are eligible to participate. In a random sample of schools, students in 9th-12th grade classes are chosen from a random sample with-in their school and are asked to complete the YRBS. Nebraska has been administered in Nebraska biannually since 1991.

Nebraska YRBS data results can also be found in the 2023 Nebraska Adolescent Report.

The Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Surveillance System

The Nebraska Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is part of the Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Surveillance System. This system is the umbrella uniting the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS), and Nebraska Risk and Protective Factor Student Survey (NRPFSS). All three of these surveys are administered in the fall of even calendar years. The Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR) manages these surveys on behalf of the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS).

For more information, please contact: Jessie Coffey at jessie.coffey@nebraska.gov, 402-617-5796 or visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm.

2023 YRBS Results are NOW AVAILABLE!

The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was completed by 586 Nebraska students in 22 public high schools during the fall of 2023. The school response rate was 44%, the student response rate was 57%, and the overall response rate was 25%. The results are representative of all students in grades 9-12. Students, 300 female and 286 male, completed a self-administered, anonymous, 95-item questionnaire. Survey procedures were designed to protect the privacy of students by allowing for anonymous and voluntary participation.

Graphs/Charts – Please view the slides below if you are interested in seeing graphs/charts from each survey question.

Master Slide Deck

Mental Health & Bullying

Nutrition & Obesity

2023 Nebraska adolescent Health Report

Together, NDE and NDHHS monitor how common and widespread various health risk behaviors are among Nebraska youth. Vital statistics records and surveys provide data for this monitoring and the measurement of change and progress towards health goals. This report focuses on the results of two sets of data collection in Nebraska: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and the School Health Profiles (SHP).

Full Report Report Infographics

Past Administrations

Nebraska has been administering the YRBS since 1991. Past administration data can be found below.

2021 YRBS

2021 YRBS Survey Results

The Nebraska 2021 survey was completed by 676 students across the state. Each high school grade level was represented; with 24.7% of survey completed by 9th graders, 24.8% of surveys completed by 10th graders, 24.5% of surveys completed by 11th graders and 25.6% of surveys completed by 12th graders. Ethnicities represented include: Black 6.7%, Hispanic/Latino 19.3%, White 66.1%, Multiple Races 4.6%, Other 3.2%