THE YOUTH HEALTH SURVEY - RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF AN INSTRUMENT FOR ASSESSING CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH HABITS IN ADOLESCENTS

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