THE ADOLESCENT CHILD HEALTH AND ILLNESS PROFILE - A POPULATION-BASED MEASURE OF HEALTH

This study was designed to test the reliability and validity of an ins trument to assess adolescent health status. Reliability and validity w ere examined by administration to adolescents (ages 11-17 years) in ei ght schools in two urban areas, one area in Appalachia, and one area i n the rural South. Integrity of the domains and subdomains and constru ct validity were tested in all areas. Test/retest stability, criterion validity, and convergent and discriminant validity were tested in the two urban areas. Iterative testing has resulted in the final form of the CHIP-AE (Child Health and Illness Profile-Adolescent Edition) havi ng 6 domains with 20 subdomains. The domains are Discomfort, Disorders , Satisfaction with Health, Achievement (of age-appropriate social rol es), Risks, and Resilience. Tested aspects of reliability and validity have achieved acceptable levels for all retained subdomains. The CHIP -AE in its current form is suitable for assessing the health status of populations and subpopulations of adolescents. Evidence from test-ret est stability analyses suggests that the CHIP-AE also can be used to a ssess changes occurring over time or in response to health services in terventions targeted at groups of adolescents.