The Youth Health Survey: reliability and validity of an instrument for assessing cardiovascular health habits in adolescents

Abstract

The Youth Health Survey (YHS) was developed as part of a school-based longitudinal study (Cardiovascular Health in Children and Youth) to assess and track behavior and attitudes related to cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents. This paper reports the psychometric properties of each of the subscales of the YHS and the results of a pilot study with sixth, seventh and eighth grade students (n = 205) at two schools in the Southeast. The eight subscales of the YHS assess health habits and attitudes of the adolescent as well as selected peer and family influences on those health behaviors. Internal consistencies for seven of the eight subscales ranged from .74 to .89. Test-retest reliability for six of the eight subscales ranged from .67 to .89. Construct validity was established through factor analyses of four of six of the subscales. Findings support using the YHS with some minor revisions to assess behaviors, attitudes and influences which may lead to CVD in adulthood.