RETENTION OF RESISTANT SUBJECTS IN LONGITUDINAL-STUDIES - DESCRIPTIONAND PROCEDURES

This paper discusses efforts to retain resistant subjects (N = 88) in a prospective research project which investigates the effects of prena tal substance use on pregnancy and infant outcome. Resistant subjects were women for whom we had valid addresses and/or phone numbers. They did not refuse to participate but were reluctant to schedule appointme nts and/or keep scheduled appointments. The persistent resistance we e ncountered led us to develop procedures which established and maintain ed rapport with resistant respondents and facilitated access to the I8 -month assessment. No significant differences were found between the r esistant participants and nonresistant subjects on six sociodemographi c factors and on substance use. However, resistant subjects were signi ficantly more depressed than nonresistant subjects. Anxiety and hostil ity did not differ at any time point. Resistant subjects who were fina lly interviewed, reported a significantly higher number of recent life events than nonresistant subjects at the Ib-month postpartum intervie w. The follow-up rates for retaining the 88 resistant subjects were 44 .3, 72.7, and 79.6% at Phases 4, 5, and 6, respectively.