Rationale for Survey Questions

2021 and 2023 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Attachment D

Rationale for Survey Questions

Rationale for Survey Questions

Att # and title of form	Question #/ Page #	Question	Respondent	Justification for question
Att K, YRBS questionnaire	#67/page 16	During your life, with whom have you had sexual contact? A. I have never had sexual contact B. Females C. Males D. Females and males	High school students	This question assesses the sex of one’s sexual partners. Measuring this construct along with the one below enables identification of youth who are sexual minorities. Sexual minority refers to individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (i.e., not heterosexual), as well as those who have sexual contact with persons of the same or both sexes. Data are needed to further support the finding that sexual minority youth have higher rates of violence victimization than youth who identify as heterosexual or only report opposite sex sexual contacts. Sexual minority youth also face well-documented health disparities. Data on the sexual minority status of young people are critical for continuing to demonstrate the disproportionate rates at which sexual minority students experience many health risks compared to non-sexual minority students and for developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and programs designed to mitigate these disparities.
Att K, YRBS questionnaire	#68/page 16	Which of the following best describes you? A. Heterosexual (straight) B. Gay or lesbian C. Bisexual D. Not sure	High school students	This question assesses sexual identity. Because sexual identity may or may not correspond to a high school student’s sex of sexual partners, measuring this construct along with the one above enables a more complete identification of youth who are sexual minorities.