The 2021 Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey was given in the fall of 2021. The YAS Committee wants to ensure that parents, educators, faith leaders, and other community members understand the survey and its significant impact on our youth.
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2021 Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey

A special thank you to the school district superintendents, school principals, administrators, teachers, parents and students for participating in the 2021 Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey (YAS). Planning and implementation of this study was coordinated by the YAS Committee, whose time and efforts were invaluable in making this project possible.

2021 YAS Highlights

The teens who took the YAS

total students

%

Female

%

Male

White

%

Hispanic

%

Other

%

34%

8th Grade

34%

10th Grade

32%

12th Grade

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

I have lived with someone who was depressed, mentally ill, or suicidal.
I have experienced 1-3 Adverse Childhood Experiences.
I have experienced 4 or more Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Resiliency

I usually have an adult that meets my basic needs.

Bullying

In the YAS, bullying is described in this way: “one or more students teasing, threatening, spreading rumors about, purposely excluding, hitting, shoving, or hurting another student over and over again. It does not mean when two students of about the same strength or power, argue or fight or tease each other in a friendly way”.

Depression & Suicide

In the Last Year:

I stopped doing some usual activities because I felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row.
I have seriously thought about attempting suicide.
I have made a plan about how to attempt suicide.
I attempted suicide 1+ times.

Risk Factor

The percent of participants that, on average, spend 3 or more hours watching tv, playing video or computer games, or using a computer for something that is not school work.*

Prevention

The percent of students who have been physically active for 60+ minutes per day on five or more of the past seven days.*

*Studies show that high screen time increases the risk for depression. 1 Regular activity helps to decrease this risk 2

1 Boers E, Afzali MH, Newton N, Conrod P. Association of Screen Time and Depression in Adolescence. JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(9): 853–859 acivity helps to decrease this risk. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1759.

2 Pascoe MC, Parker AG. Physical activity and exercise as a universal depression prevention in young people: A narrative review.
Early Interv Psychiatry. 2019 Aug;13(4):733-739. doi: 10.1111/eip.12737. Epub 2018 Oct 10. PMID: 30302925.

Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual (LGB)

The percent of students who. . .

Identify as LBG
LGB was defined as those identifying as gay or lesbian, bisexual or some other non-heterosexual way. Students who answered that they are not sure about their sexual identity (questioning) or did not know what the sexual orientation question was asking were excluded.

Nutrition & Wellness

5.85

The average stress level reported by students on a scale from 1 to 10 during the past 30 days.

Relationships

Among those who reported having dated or gone out with someone in the past 12 months, the percent of students who

Safety

%

Report “my parents/guardian know where I am and who I am with.”

%

Did not go to school on one or more days in the past 30 days because of concerns about safety at school or on the way to or from school.

%

Have been forced to work or do something illegal by somone who got money or something of value for what they did.

%

Have been given money or something of value in exchange for sex in their lifetime.

In the past 30 days among those who drive…


Texted or used the internet, apps, or email while driving.


Drove a vehicle after smoking marijuana.

Drove a vehicle after drinking alcohol.

Sexting & Pornography

Sexual Health

Students who reported they have never had sexual intercourse.
Students who reported that their parent/guardian or other adults in their family have talked with them about what they expect when it comes to sex.
Have had sexual intercourse with one or more people in the past three months.
Among those who reported having sexual intercourse in the past three months…
Had sexual intercourse when they really did not want to in the past 12 months.*
Among those who reported having sexual intercourse when they really did not want to…

Substance Use

Average age of first use

(among those who report having tried by 12th grade)

Percent of students who report there is no or slight risk to smoking marijuana once or twice a week.

Percent of students who report there is no or slight risk to using electronic vapor products or e-cigarettes.

%

smoked cigarettes

%

had five or more drinks of alcohol within a couple of hours (binge drinking)

%

used marijuana

%

used an electronic vapor product

%

had at least one drink of alcohol

Funding in 2021 Provided By