Development and psychometric properties of the adolescent risk behavior questionnaire.

Abstract

Objectives: Develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of an instrument that measures the main risk behaviors in adolescence.

Methods: The study was conducted in two phases: first, the development of the instrument through content validation with experts in the field, and then a second phase was conducted with a cross-sectional design and non-probabilistic sampling for psychometric purposes. The sample consisted of a total of 100 adolescents with an age range of 12-17 years, recruited from a tertiary Pediatric Hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico. The participants who gave their consent to participate in the study answered the developed instrument.

Results: In total, 72 % were women, with age (x̄ 14.4). The final version of the questionnaire on risk behaviors in adolescents consisted of three dimensions: high prevalence, dissocial, accidents; and 12 items, with a Likert-type rating, whose answers are equivalent to a value of 0 for no risk, one for low risk and two for moderate risk, obtaining adequate content validity by the experts. The instrument as a scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.79) and as a dichotomous questionnaire KR-20 0.76. The exploratory factor analysis obtained three components, which together explained 56.9 % of the total variance; KMO 0.76 and Bartlett's sphericity test p 0.001. The confirmatory factor analysis supports the proposed model with at least five adequate fit indices (RMSEA 0.042, CFI 0.95, TLI 0.93, X²/gl 1.17).

Conclusions: The adolescent risk behavior questionnaire (Cuestionario de Conductas de Riesgo en la Adolescencia, CCRAC) is a spanish, brief, freely usable instrument that is easy to apply in multiple settings. Its psychometric characteristics make it reliable and valid for screening behaviors with potential negative consequences for health in clinical contexts.