Individual Level Health Datasets
Data Title: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey
Year(s): 1984-2016
Level: Individual
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
File Format: ASCII, .sas
Description: BRFSS provides telephone survey data on six individual-level behavioral health risk factors associated with the leading causes of premature mortality and morbidity among adults: 1) cigarette smoking, 2) alcohol use, 3) physical activity, 4) diet, 5) hypertension, and 6) safety belt use. Some of the variables included in BRFSS are: state, private residence, college housing, 18 or older, number of adults in the household, number of adult men in household, number of adult women, general health rating, general mental health rating, health care coverage, sleeping habits, presence of various medical conditions, marital status, veteran status, education level, income level, weight, height, internet usage, sex, cigarette consumption, alcohol consumption, dieting habits, exercise habits, blood pressure, seatbelt usage, and vaccination use.
Links:
Website: BRFSS Annual Survey Data Overview
Data Files:
2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984
Data Title: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YBRSS) Survey
Year(s): 1991-2015 (biannual)
Level: Individual
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention YRBSS
File Format: ASCII, .sas, SPSS, Access
Description: YBRSS monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors, plus obesity and asthma, among adolescents at the national, state, territorial, tribal, and local levels. Some of the variables included are: age, sex, grade, race, height, weight, seatbelt usage, driving habits, weapon possession, fighting frequency, bullying, depression, cigarette consumption, alcohol consumption, drug consumption, sexual activity, and dietary habits.
Links:
Website/Data Files: YRBSS Data Files and Methods
Example papers:
The Impact of State Physical Education Requirements on Youth Physical Activity and Overweight
