2025 Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey

A special thank you to the school district superintendents, school principals, administrators, teachers, parents/guardians and students for participating in the 2025 Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey (YAS). Planning and implementation of the YAS was coordinated by the YAS Committee, whose time and efforts were invaluable in making this project possible.

2025 YAS Report

Special Topics

Additional Documents

Frequency Table

2025 YAS Highlights

The teens who took the YAS

total students

%

Female

%

Male

8th grade: 34%

10th grade: 32%

12th grade: 35%

White: 68%

Hispanic: 14%

Other: 18%

Bullying

1 in 4 students report they have been bullied or harassed in the past 12 months.

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.”

Among students who reported being bullied or harassed in the past 12 months, 18% were bullied or harassed on school property, 11% were bullied or harassed electronically, and 9% were bullied or harassed somewhere else.

Mental Health

In the last 12 months…

I stopped doing some usual activities because I felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row.

23% agreed with this statement. Of the students who agreed, 31% were female, 15% were male, 22% were White, 26% were Hispanic, and 29% identified as another race or ethnicity.

I have seriously thought about attempting suicide.

12% of all respondants, 16% of female, 8% of male, 12% white, 12% hispanic, 16% other

I have made a plan about how to attempt suicide.

8% of all respondants, 11% of females, 5% of male, 8% white, 8% hispanic, 11% other

I attempted suicide 1+ times.

5% of all respondants, 6% of female, 4% of male, 4% white, 4% hispanic, 7% other

Counseling or Therapy

%

In the past 12 months, I have received counseling or therapy from a health professional, such as a doctor, nurse, psychologist, or therapist to help with emotions, concentration, behavior or mental health.

Average Stress

The average stress level reported by students on a scale from 1 to 10 during the past 30 days.
(1 is little or no stress and 10 is a great deal of stress)

Nutrition & Wellness

Minority teens are about 2x more likely than white teens to go hungry because there was not enough food in their home.

Graphic showing student health behaviors related to physical activity, sleep, and nutrition, with overall percentages plus breakdowns by gender and grade level.</p>
<p>52% of students reported being physically active for 60 or more minutes per day on five or more of the past seven days. By gender, 43% of female students and 61% of male students reported this. By grade level, 54% of 8th graders, 55% of 10th graders, and 47% of 12th graders reported this.</p>
<p>37% of students reported getting 8 or more hours of sleep on an average night. By gender, 33% of female students and 42% of male students reported this. By grade level, 53% of 8th graders, 35% of 10th graders, and 25% of 12th graders reported this.</p>
<p>29% of students reported eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables on an average day. By gender, 27% of female students and 31% of male students reported this. By grade level, 33% of 8th graders, 29% of 10th graders, and 25% of 12th graders reported this.

Relationships

51% The percent of students who<br />
have dated or gone out with<br />
someone in the past 12<br />
months. 54% of female and 47% of males

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

Graphic showing student survey results related to dating relationships and help-seeking.</p>
<p>12% of students have been called degrading names by someone they’ve dated. Of the students who reported this, 14% were female and 10% were male. By race or ethnicity, 11% were White, 13% were Hispanic, and 12% were categorized as Other.</p>
<p>6% of students have been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by someone they’ve dated. Of the students who reported this, 4% were female and 8% were male. By grade level, 5% were in 8th grade, 6% were in 10th grade, and 6% were in 12th grade.</p>
<p>80% of students said they would want someone to find help if someone they were dating or going out with was pushing, yelling, or hitting them. Of the students who agreed, 90% were female and 71% were male.

Violence Related Behaviors

Graphic showing student survey results related to sexting activity.</p>
<p>12% of students engaged in any sexting activity in the past 12 months. Of the students who reported this, 13% were female and 11% were male. By grade level, 5% were in 8th grade, 11% were in 10th grade, and 19% were in 12th grade.

Graphic showing reasons reported by students who said they had sexual intercourse when they really did not want to.</p>
<p>32% of these students reported that they were physically forced. Of the students who reported this, 28% were female and 38% were male. By grade level, 62% were in 8th grade, 41% were in 10th grade, and 24% were in 12th grade.</p>
<p>34% reported that they felt like they had to in order to fit in with their friends. Of the students who reported this, 23% were female and 49% were male. By grade level, 42% were in 8th grade, 31% were in 10th grade, and 34% were in 12th grade.</p>
<p>69% reported that they felt uncomfortable saying no. Of the students who reported this, 74% were female and 63% were male. By grade level, 75% were in 8th grade, 70% were in 10th grade, and 68% were in 12th grade.

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…

%

Used the internet, or apps while driving.

%

Drove a vehicle after smoking marijuana.

%

Drove a vehicle after drinking alcohol.

Sexting & Pornography

Sexting

Pornography

Sexual Health

%

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.

Graphic showing student survey results related to sexual health.</p>
<p>77% of students strongly agree or agree that there are consequences, whether physical, emotional, or other, when someone their age has sexual intercourse. Of the students who agreed, 80% were female and 74% were male. By grade level, 87% were in 8th grade, 77% were in 10th grade, and 69% were in 12th grade.</p>
<p>9% of students have had sexual intercourse with one or more people in the past three months. Of the students who reported this, 9% were female and 8% were male. By race or ethnicity, 9% were White, 8% were Hispanic, and 7% were categorized as Other.

Detailed alt text for first graphic:</p>
<p>Graphic showing student survey results among students who reported having sexual intercourse in the past three months.</p>
<p>40% of these students did not use a condom during the last time they had sexual intercourse with an opposite-sex partner. Of the students who reported this, 37% were female and 44% were male.</p>
<p>21% of these students drank alcohol or used drugs before the last time they had sexual intercourse. Of the students who reported this, 13% were female and 31% were male.

Social Media

%

Students reported social media use*

*Reflects self-reported typical behavior. Each student chose one answer.
Use includes those who reported monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly use.

Graphic showing student survey results related to social media use. 50% of students reported daily social media use. Of the students who reported this, 53% were female and 47% were male. By race or ethnicity, 52% were White, 47% were Hispanic, and 45% were categorized as Other. By grade level, 43% were in 8th grade, 52% were in 10th grade, and 55% were in 12th grade. 28% of students reported hourly social media use. Of the students who reported this, 28% were female and 28% were male. By race or ethnicity, 26% were White, 38% were Hispanic, and 32% were categorized as Other. By grade level, 24% were in 8th grade, 30% were in 10th grade, and 31% were in 12th grade.

Social Media Use & Mental Health

Graphic showing mental health indicators among students who reported daily social media use.</p>
<p>Among students who reported daily social media use, 23% reported depression, 11% reported suicidal ideation, 7% reported having a suicide plan, and 4% reported a suicide attempt.

Graphic showing mental health indicators among students who reported hourly social media use.</p>
<p>Among students who reported hourly social media use, 28% reported depression, 16% reported suicidal ideation, 11% reported having a suicide plan, and 6% reported a suicide attempt.

Social Media Use & Past 30 Day Substance Use

Substance Use

%

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.

Average age of first experience

of surveyed 12th graders

Graphic showing the average age students first engaged in or used selected substances, behaviors, or activities, shown on a timeline from age 10 to age 16.</p>
<p>The average reported age was 10.8 for inhalants, 11.9 for internet pornography, 12.6 for prescription drugs, 13.5 for over-the-counter drugs, 13.8 for cigarettes, 13.9 for alcohol, 14.0 for vaping, 14.5 for marijuana, and 15.7 for sexual intercourse.

Gold indicates that the behavior got older since 2023 (good).
Blue indicates that the behavior got younger since 2023 (not good).
*Indicates a statistically significant difference between the average are of onset in 2023 vs 2025.

Funding Provided By