SWYS - 1990 Executive Summary

Concerns about teen problems in Grant County prompted the Grant County School Districts to undertake the University of Wisconsin-Extension Teen Assessment Project (SWYS).  With input from school personnel, a 160-item survey was developed and administered to local youth in grades 7 through 12.  The Teen Assessment Project asked teens about their perception of school and community, future aspirations, worries and concerns, and mental health, as well as how frequently they engaged in activities that were both positive and problematic.  Six of the 12 school districts in the county participated in the project.

The survey revealed some interesting findings.  Depression was one area that appeared to be particularly problematic for girls.  At least one quarter of 9th, 10th and 11th grade girls reported feeling depress or sad "most of the time" or "all of the time".  Feelings of depression peaked for girls at the 11th grade level with over a third of the girls reporting that they felt depressed or sad "most of the time" or "all of the time".  As with depression, girls were more likely than boys to report having thoughts of suicide with the peak coming in the 10th grade.

As early as the 7th grade, youth were found to be having sexual intercourse.  An alarming number of sexually active teens reported they did not use any form of contraception on a regular basis.  Few students reported they talked with their parents about sexuality.  Teens who were not sexually active perceived significantly more costs associated with engaging in sexual activity than their sexually active peers. Chief among these perceived costs were fears that they or their partners might get pregnant, that they might contract AIDS or a venereal disease and this could affect their future plans for college or career.  It was not clear whether sexually active teens did not perceive the risks of such behavior to the same degree as their non-sexually active peers.

By the 10th grade over 35% of all youth reported that they used alcohol at least once during the past month.  When compared with statewide data, use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and marijuana was relatively low, but the use of uppers and downers was considerably higher.

Most students reported they enjoyed going to school and that they were receiving a good education.  Older students were more dissatisfied with the way rules are enforced at school.  

Overall, most teens said they got along with their parents, although this relationship was still a major worry.  A significant number of all teens reported that their parents knew little or nothing about how or with whom they spent their free time.

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Tom Schmitz, Grant/Lafayette County Youth Development Educator
Youth and Agriculture Center P.O. Box 31, Lancaster, WI 53813
Phone: 608-723-2125   Fax: 608:723-4315   
E-mail: thomas.schmitz@ces.uwex.edu