Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110873

Danice K. Eaton, PhD, MPH, Nancy D. Brener, PhD, Jo Anne Grunbaum, EdD, and Laura Kann, PhD. Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-6143, dhe0@cdc.gov

Risk behavior prevalence estimates from surveys among adolescents often vary considerably. Methodological studies are needed to understand the disparate results. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the prevalence of self-reported health risk behaviors among high school students varied by survey setting (school vs. home) and mode (paper and pencil vs. computer). Ninth- and 11th-grade students in 64 schools were assigned randomly to one of four conditions—school paper-and-pencil instrument (PAPI), school computer-assisted self interview (CASI), home PAPI, and home CASI. During spring 2004, 4506 students completed identically worded questionnaires based on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Logistic regression analyses controlling for sex, grade, and race/ethnicity examined if reporting of risk behaviors varied by setting and mode. Controlling for demographic variables, setting was associated significantly with reporting of 36 of the 57 risk behaviors examined, and mode was associated significantly with reporting of 13 of the 57 behaviors. For all but one behavior with a significant setting main effect, the odds of reporting the behavior were greater among students completing questionnaires at school vs. at home. For all but one behavior with a significant mode main effect, PAPI mode students had lower odds of reporting the behavior than CASI mode students. Students completing questionnaires at school report higher levels of risk behavior than students completing the same questionnaires at home. Mode effects were weaker. Further research is needed to understand the effect of setting and mode on self-reported risk behaviors.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
• Describe different settings and modes used in surveys to assess adolescent risk behavior.
• Discuss the impact of survey setting and mode on reporting of risk behaviors among adolescents.

Keywords: Survey, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:


I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Research and Theory for Effective School Health Education

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA