Tobacco Use Down, Bullying Up: Brookline Youth Health Survey

BROOKLINE, MA — A study of Brookline youth released on Friday suggests teenagers in Brookline are less likely to engage in risky or dangerous behaviors than their peers across the state and country.

The Brookline Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted by the local department of health and human services, studied 1,542 high school students and 1,067 middle school students in grades seven and eight between 2015 and 2018.

What it found is that in several ways, Brookline youth are generally safer than similarly aged groups across the state and country.

The anonymous and voluntary study found that Brookline has more teens who have never used tobacco when compared to averages from across the U.S. and Massachusetts. Similarly, rates of marijuana use were below state and national levels.

Brookline students also reported fewer violence-related risk behaviors and lower rates of sexual intercourse than statewide and national averages, and alcohol use dropped from 56 percent in 2013 to 24 percent in 2015.

Lastly, 94 percent of Brookline High School students reported they always wear seat belts when driving.

Some results, however, could be cause for concern.

While students reported that derogatory remarks about sexual orientation fell between 2015 and 2017, the study found overall bullying rose in the same timeframe. In 2015, the number of students who reported they had been bullied was 9 percent. That rose to 13 percent in two years.

Also on the rise was stress and anxiety between 2015 and 2017 and students reporting having felt unsafe at home or in the community.

Of the students surveyed, 17 percent reported driving after drinking alcohol.

"We use the results of our survey to help identify which risk behaviors are prevalent in our community and whether they are decreasing or increasing throughout the years," Health Commissioner Dr. Swannie Jett said. "While we've noticed a decreasing trend in some of these behaviors, others are still rising. These identified trends will be used to develop future strategies, policies and dialogue surrounding risk behaviors and prevention."

According to the release, young people who avoid high risk behaviors in their youth share certain resiliency traits facilitated by factors like academic achievement, significant relationships with adult caregivers, parents or school community members and an interest in community service.

The full study is available online.