Cited by 1,331Adolescent Health and BehaviorsAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthSubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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Assessment of factors affecting the validity of self-reported health-risk behavior among adolescents: evidence from the scientific literature

Brener, Nancy D, Billy, John O.G, Grady, William R·2003·Journal of Adolescent Health

DOI 10.1016/s1054-139x(03)00052-1

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Abstract

We reviewed the existing empirical literature to assess cognitive and situational factors that may affect the validity of adolescents' self-reports of alcohol and other drug use, tobacco use, behaviors related to unintentional injuries and violence, dietary behaviors, physical activity, and sexual behavior. Specifically, we searched for peer-reviewed journal articles published in 1980 or later that examined the factors affecting self-report of the six categories of behavior listed above. We also searched for studies describing objective measures for each behavior. Self-reports of each of six types of health-risk behaviors are affected by both cognitive and situational factors. These factors, however, do not threaten the validity of self-reports of each type of behavior equally. The importance of assessing health-risk behaviors as part of research activities involving adolescents necessitates the use of self-report measures. Researchers should familiarize themselves with the threats to validity inherent in this type of assessment and design research that minimizes these threats as much as possible.

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“However, according to a review of Brener, Billy, and Grady ( 2003 ), certain factors increase the validity of self-reports, for example, short recall period, specific and simple questions, and providing the respondent privacy during completion of the questionnaire.”
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Authors: Brener, N. D., Billy, J. O. G., & Grady, W. R.
Affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
Battelle (US)
Corresponding author: Brener, Nancy D
ORCID: Brener, Nancy D
Venue: Journal of Adolescent Health
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2003-12
Volume: 33
Issue: 6
Pages: 436-457
ISSN: 1054-139X (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/s1054-139x(03)00052-1
OpenAlex: W2087261951
Cited by: 1,331
References: 108
Citations by year: 2026: 43 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 69 · 2019: 76 · 2018: 88 · 2017: 82 · 2016: 91 · 2015: 113 · 2014: 87 · 2013: 86 · 2012: 55
FWCI: 3.11
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Adolescent Health (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Adolescent Health and Behaviors
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords: self-report validity, adolescent health risk behaviors, alcohol consumption, drug use, tobacco use, unintentional injuries, violence, dietary behavior, physical activity, sexual behavior, cognitive factors, situational factors, objective measures
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Alcoholism, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Risk-Taking, Self-Assessment, Sexual Behavior, Tobacco Use Disorder, Violence, Substance-Related Disorders

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Assessment of factors affecting the validity of self-reported health-risk behavior among adolescents: evidence from the scientific literature

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