McCreary Centre Society Adolescent Health Survey III: 2003 results in preparation for 2008 AHS IV A Brief Summary of Results for The Fraser North Region

McCreary Centre Society The Purpose of Regional Reports  To recognize health promotion and prevention efforts that are working well  To identify issues on which more effort is needed to improve youth health

McCreary Centre Society Fraser North Region  Located in the Greater Vancouver geographic area (used to identify trends)  Includes school districts #40, #41, #42, #43  SD #43, chose not to participate in the survey.

McCreary Centre Society What’s Improved: Trends for Greater Vancouver Geographic Area Trying alcohol  Smoking  Having sex before age 14  Condom use  Birth control pills  Drinking & driving  Injuries  Physical fights  Physical abuse 

McCreary Centre Society What needs improvement: Trends for Greater Vancouver Geographic Area Feeling safe at school  No change in frequent binge drinking (in youth who drink) Frequent marijuana use  Seat belt use  Racial discrimination  Girls considering suicide  Boys who are overweight  Fewer youth expect to attend post-secondary school No changed in girls with history of sexual abuse

McCreary Centre Society Family Background  48% of youth are European  31% East Asian  9% South Asian  5% Southeast Asian  4% Aboriginal  65% of students were born in Canada

McCreary Centre Society Substance Use: Ever Used Marijuana Fraser North Region % BC % Greater Vancouver Area % Greater Vancouver Area % Greater Vancouver Area %

McCreary Centre Society Substance Abuse: Ever Used Illegal Drugs Fraser North 2003 BC 2003Greater Vancouver Area 2003 Greater Vancouver Area 1998 Cocaine5% 7% Hallucinogens6%7%6%9% Mushrooms9%13%9%13% Inhalants3%4%3%6% Amphetamines3%4%3%4% Heroin#1% 2% Injected an illegal drug#1% Steroids#1% 2% Prescription pills without a doctor’s consent 7%9%8%10% Note: “#” indicates insufficient data to make an accurate estimate

McCreary Centre Society Substance Use: Alcohol Fraser North’s rate of trying alcohol, use of alcohol and binge drinking, are all lower than the provincial average Fraser North Region BC Ever had a drink of alcohol47%57% Used alcohol 100+ days in life7%10% Binge drinking on 3+ days in past month 7%11%

McCreary Centre Society Substance Use: Tobacco Non- Smoker Experimental Smoker Current Smoker Fraser North %16%6% BC %19%7% Greater Vancouver Area %16%6% Greater Vancouver Area %26%12%

McCreary Centre Society Sexual Behaviour  Youth are waiting longer to have sex.  18% have ever had intercourse (24% in BC)  23% of the sexually active students first had intercourse before age 14 (20% in BC)  13% of sexually active students report that their sexual experience was with a partner aged 19 years or more

McCreary Centre Society Sexual Orientation 100% heterosexual 84% Mostly heterosexual 7% Bisexual/homosexual 3% Not sure 7%

McCreary Centre Society Sexual Behaviour: Risk of STDs  64% of students in Fraser North used a condom the last time they had sex (64% in BC)  Sexually active students 17 years old and older were the least likely group to use a condom the last time they had sex  Over 37% of students in this region reported 3 or more partners in lifetime  14% of sexually active youth reported two or more partners in the last 3 months.

Sexual Behaviour: Birth Control Used Last Time Had Sex

McCreary Centre Society Physical Health Status  Most students in the region (87%) report excellent or good health  More boys than girls feel they have excellent or good health (90% vs. 83%)  9% of students in this region have a chronic condition or disability that limits their activity

McCreary Centre Society  45% of girls and 55% of boys are satisfied with their appearance  24% of boys and 10% of girls in this region are overweight (based on BMI from self-reported height and weight)  76% of boys and 64% of girls exercise three or more days a week  Level of exercise decreases with age Physical Health: Appearance, Weight & Exercise

McCreary Centre Society Injuries  In BC injuries have declined between 1998 and 2003  Fraser North has a lower rate of injuries (29% vs. 34% in BC)  Most injuries occurred during a sports or recreational activity

McCreary Centre Society Emotional Health  8% of the youth in Fraser North experienced serious emotional distress in the past month  Girls are more likely than boys (10% vs. 6%) to feel seriously distressed  14% of students report physical abuse  6% of students report sexual abuse

McCreary Centre Society Emotional Health: Suicide  Suicide ideation and attempts among youth in BC have not declined over the past decade  15% of students in Fraser North Region said they had seriously considered suicide in the past year  10% had actually planned a suicide attempt  In the past year, 3% attempted suicide once and 3% attempted suicide two or more times (9% girls vs. 3% boys)

McCreary Centre Society Emotional Health: Discrimination  29% of youth in Fraser North said they have been discriminated against due to skin colour, sexual orientation or physical appearance in the past 12 months

McCreary Centre Society Violence & Safety  2003 survey results do not provide evidence of an increase in violent behaviour in this age group  26% of students in this region say they were in a physical fight in past year  Young people who feel safe have better physical and emotional health and are less likely to take risks

McCreary Centre Society Violence & Safety  Internet safety is a growing concern  In Fraser North, 6% of the boys and 19% of the girls have encountered a stranger on the Internet who made them feel unsafe  6% of boys and 8% of girls have run away in the past year  Running away is associated with a greatly increased likelihood of risky behaviours

Always Feel Safe At School by Grade

McCreary Centre Society Always or Usually Feel Safe at School in… Library 85% Classroom 81% Cafeteria 68% Washroom 60% Hallways 62% Outside on school property during school hours 52%

Sexual Harassment in Past Year by Gender

Harassment, Exclusion, & Assault by Another Youth at School in Past Year Note: “#” indicates insufficient data to make an accurate estimate

McCreary Centre Society S chool  83% of the students in this region like school some or very much  Dislike for school tends to increase with age  Girls are more likely to have positive feelings about school  Majority of the students (79%) plan to continue their education post-secondary school (75% in BC)

McCreary Centre Society Community and Leisure  29% of youth in this region have a paid, part time job  Males were more likely to work than females  86% of students have money to spend on themselves each week  49% of youth say they have gambled in the past year

Hours Spent in Front of a Screen on School Day

McCreary Centre Society  Youth with high family and school connectedness are less likely to engage in risk behaviours  The presence of parents in the home at critical times of the day has been shown to promote healthy youth development Healthy Youth Development: Family Connectedness

Family Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

McCreary Centre Society  Students who like and feel connected to their school are healthier and achieve better academic performance  Students that are highly connected to school are less likely to engage in risk behaviours Healthy Youth Development: School Connectedness

School Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

McCreary Centre Society  Feeling safe at school  Enjoying school  Having aspirations for post-secondary education  Having a parent or other adult who can talk to about concerns  Feeling they are good at something  Being involved in extracurricular activities  Volunteering in the community Healthy Youth Development is Associated With:

McCreary Centre Society Summary  While some aspects of youth health have improved or stayed the same, there is still room for improvement in many areas  This report highlights the importance of connectedness to family, school and community in fostering health and decreasing risk behaviours in youth

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