Alcohol Use Among High School Students in Select Florida School Districts, a Comparison of Pre-COVID and COVID Years, (2019, 2021)
Abstract
Background: The widespread concern about alcohol use among high school students underscores the urgent need for effective prevention and education programs. Comparing underage drinking statistics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for understanding patterns of behavior during this unique time period. This knowledge can potentially illuminate changes in risk factors and guide targeted interventions to protect the well-being of adolescents in the post-pandemic era.
Methods: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data was used to analyze alcohol use behaviors in six Florida counties. We used student responses to examine alcohol-use initiation and whether they were currently drinking at the time of the survey. Results were stratified by county. Paired samples t-test determined differences in initiation of drinking alcohol before age 13 and current alcohol use.
Results: On average 17.25% of students were currently drinking alcohol in 2021. This was a 3.22% decrease from 2019, however, differences were observed by county, with some showing increases and others showing decreases in these behaviors. There was a significant average increase in alcohol-use initiation before the age of 13 in the same time period.
Conclusion: Although less students recently drank alcohol, there were more first time drinkers during the pandemic. This could be because students were home during lockdown and possibly having more access. The prevalence of alcohol-use among high school students in Florida emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to the population as well as taking into account the exceptional changes that the pandemic presented.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Christi M. Navarro
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-3-2024 12:30 PM
End Date
4-4-2024 1:30 PM
Alcohol Use Among High School Students in Select Florida School Districts, a Comparison of Pre-COVID and COVID Years, (2019, 2021)
Alvin Sherman Library
Background: The widespread concern about alcohol use among high school students underscores the urgent need for effective prevention and education programs. Comparing underage drinking statistics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for understanding patterns of behavior during this unique time period. This knowledge can potentially illuminate changes in risk factors and guide targeted interventions to protect the well-being of adolescents in the post-pandemic era.
Methods: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data was used to analyze alcohol use behaviors in six Florida counties. We used student responses to examine alcohol-use initiation and whether they were currently drinking at the time of the survey. Results were stratified by county. Paired samples t-test determined differences in initiation of drinking alcohol before age 13 and current alcohol use.
Results: On average 17.25% of students were currently drinking alcohol in 2021. This was a 3.22% decrease from 2019, however, differences were observed by county, with some showing increases and others showing decreases in these behaviors. There was a significant average increase in alcohol-use initiation before the age of 13 in the same time period.
Conclusion: Although less students recently drank alcohol, there were more first time drinkers during the pandemic. This could be because students were home during lockdown and possibly having more access. The prevalence of alcohol-use among high school students in Florida emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to the population as well as taking into account the exceptional changes that the pandemic presented.
