BOSTON (AP) — Nearly a quarter of high school boys in Massachusetts experienced symptoms of a sports-related traumatic brain injury in the past year while more than six in ten high school seniors who drive admitted texting behind the wheel, according to reports released Friday on youth health behavior.
The reports looked at a range of activities, including smoking, drinking, nutrition and sexual activity.
The study found that the percentage of high school students bullied at school was on the decline, while more than half of middle school students reported drinking one to two sugar-sweetened beverages the previous day.
Rates of alcohol and cigarette use also dropped, with more students reporting using marijuana than smoking cigarettes. Cigars and smokeless tobacco, however, show signs of gaining popularity among young people.
The recent focus on concussions in professional football has led to more awareness of possible sports-related brain injuries in high schools.
The surveys asked students if they suffered a blow or jolt to their head while playing on a sports team in the past year and if that blow or jolt caused them to pass out, have memory problems, double or blurry vision, headaches or pressure in the head, or nausea or vomiting, which are all symptoms of a possible traumatic brain injury or concussion.
Nearly a quarter of boys reported experiencing the symptoms compared to 18 percent of girls.
Texting while driving has also become a major concern in Massachusetts.
On Wednesday, a 17-year-old from Haverhill was sentenced to spend a year in jail for a fatal traffic accident that happened while he was texting. Aaron Deveau was among the first people convicted under a state law that took effect in September 2010 that created the criminal charge of texting while driving negligently and causing injury.
Friday’s report found that 42 percent of Massachusetts high school students reported texting while driving. Among seniors, the number jumped to nearly 61 percent.
The reports also looked at bullying in schools and, for the first time, online.
The percentage of high schoolers who reported being bullied at school fell from 23 percent in 2003 to 18 percent in 2011. The report found that 14 percent of middle school students and 16 percent of high school students reported being victims of cyber-bullying.
The overall decline in smoking didn’t extend to non-cigarette tobacco products such as cigars and smokeless tobacco. The use of those products was nearly 18 percent among high school students in 2009, higher than the rate of cigarette use.
Gov. Deval Patrick said he was encouraged by some of the findings in the reports.
“We have worked diligently with our partners across the commonwealth to reduce bullying in our schools and alcohol and tobacco use among young people, but we have much work left to do,” Patrick said in written statement.
The studies also looked at dating violence and sexual activity.
According to the surveys, nearly 13 percent of high school girls reported experiencing dating violence and about the same percent reported unwanted sexual contact.
Overall, 55 percent of high schoolers said they had never had sexual intercourse, though the number fell to 39 percent among seniors.
The surveys also found that 15 percent of high school girls and 9 percent of high school boys said they’ve considered suicide in the past year.
The reports were conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Department of Public Health.
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Online:
Student health study: www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/behavioral-risk/2011-yhs.pdf
