Old Rochester Regional School Committee members are digesting some troubling data they received June 10 from a youth risk behavior survey taken by ORR Junior and High School students in April. The survey, which was split into two developmentally appropriate surveys, asked participants a number of questions pertaining to topics such as substance use, sexual behavior, violence, physical activity, and dietary patterns, and offers state and national statistics for comparison.
ORR students, overall, scored lower than the state and national numbers for the majority of the questions, but in some areas, such as dating violence and contemplation of suicide, ORR High School students’ answers suggested a slightly higher prevalence than the national average.
According to the data, 16% of high school students at ORR reported a higher rate of sexual dating violence within the past 12 months than their national peers. Fourteen-percent of males surveyed reported experiencing sexual dating violence, and 18% of girls. The national average is 6% for males and 14% for females.
Students were asked if within the past 12 months while dating or going out with someone if they were forced to perform sexual acts such as kissing, touching, or sexual intercourse against their will.
“Notably, nationally there is a large disparity in the rates of sexual dating violence by gender; however, the ORR data indicates that males and females report experienced sexual violence at similar rates,” read the report presented to the School Committee by Beth Beatriz, a public health specialist and also ORRHS graduate.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 12 to 19 year olds in the United States. Thirty percent of ORR High students reported that at one point they felt so sad or hopeless in the past 12 months that they stopped participating in usual activities. Females were more likely to report feeling hopeless or sad, 36 %, compared to males at 23%. In total, 30% of ORR High School students reported feeling sad or hopeless within the past year, which is the same as the national rate.
Seriously considering suicide, however, was more likely to be reported at ORR than the students’ national and statewide peers.
“Females were more likely than males to report seriously considering suicide (19% vs. 12%), making a plan on how she would commit suicide (12% vs. 7%), and to attempt to commit suicide (7% vs. 6%),” reads the report. “It should be noted,” the report continues, “that among males who reported making a plan to commit suicide, almost all (96%) reported attempting suicide.”
Students also reported a higher prevalence of cyber bullying than their national peers, 17% over 14%, but bullying in general was less likely to be reported at ORR than nationally.
Another significant finding was that both junior and senior high males at ORR were more likely to carry a weapon than ORR females, with almost 10% of high school males who have carried a weapon to school in the past 30 days.
ORR students are less likely to try smoking cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless nicotine products than their national peers. The survey points out a growing trend with e-cigarettes, with 7% of junior high and 24% of high school students at ORR reporting currently using e-cigarettes.
The data also shows a significant jump between junior and senior high marijuana use, with 7% of junior high students reporting having tried it and 47% of the senior high students.
“The majority of our students are doing the right thing the majority of the time,” said Beatriz.
Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos said administration and staff will use the data to devise some action steps to address the tip issues, adding that the ongoing conversation will involve parents and students, as well.
“This is the start of a new conversation,” said Frangos. “It’s a lot to absorb. It leaves us with a hunger for more and certainly a hunger for the answers to this.”
The survey developed by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention was devised in the 1990s to track the prevalence of risk and protective behaviors of teenagers. The full report can be viewed on the ORR website by visiting www.oldrochester.org.
The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is September 9 at 6:00 pm in the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School media room.
By Jean Perry
