Guidelines in analyzing the data

Alcohol Scoring

Response options are rated dichotomously (yes/no) to indicate whether that consequence has
been experienced in the time period of interest (e.g. past month, past 6 months, past year). Each
item is scored (0 = No, 1= Yes).

As the scoring is dichotomous, the total score will reflect the total number of consequences that
the individual has experienced in that time frame.

Please also note that because this measure is dichotomously scored, sometimes the usual way of
calculating internal reliabilities does not yield strong reliability coefficients.

perceived attachment to peers and parents.

Instrument Description:

The IPPA was developed in order to assess adolescents’ perceptions of the positive and negative
affective/cognitive dimension of relationships with their parents and close friends -- particularly how
well these figures serve as sources of psychological security. The theoretical framework is attachment
theory, originally formulated by Bowlby and recently expanded by others. Three broad dimensions are
assessed: degree of mutual trust; quality of communication; and extent of anger and alienation. The
development samples were 16 to 20 years of age; however the IPPA has been used successfully in
several studies with adolescents as young as 12. The instrument is a self-report questionnaire with a five
point likert-scale response format. The original version consists of 28 parents and 25 peer items, yielding
two attachment scores. The revised version (Mother, Father, Peer Version) is comprised of 25 items in
each of the mother, father, and peer sections, yielding three attachment scores. The IPPA is scored by
reverse-scoring the negatively worded items and then summing the response values in each section.

Sexual Behaviors - YRBS

The questions provided by this tool come from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which is part of
the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). With versions available for middle school and high
school, this survey is designed to assess priority health-risk behaviors in youth and young adults.
Behaviors examined are those that are leading contributors to death, disability, and social problems in
this young population, and include tobacco use, unhealthy dietary behaviors, inadequate physical
activity, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and
sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV), and behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and
violence.

Adaptation made/subset of questions selected:

A subset of questions was selected for this tool (Questions 60-67).

Scoring / Benchmarking

Scoring:

The following scoring method applies to items 63-66, which are direct markers of sexual risk. Question
61 (age of first sex) is also a marker of sexual risk. Although there is no clear cut-off for what age is
considered “early”, some have noted that sex under the age of 15 is a risk factor for sexual risk taking
and unintended pregnancy.

1. Assign numeric values to question answers, by assigning a 1 to mark risky sexual behaviors and a 0 to
mark more normative responses. (For coding key, see below).

2. Sum all responses and divide by the total number of responses to obtain a percent score (e.g.,
3/4=75%, 2/3=67%).

Coding Key:

1. How old were you when you had sexual intercourse for the first time?

-I have never had sexual intercourse = 0

-14 years old or younger =1

-15 years old or older =0

2. During the past 3 months, with how many people did you have sexual intercourse?

-I have never had sexual intercourse = 0

-I have had sexual intercourse, but not during the past 3 months = 0

-1 to 3 people = 0

-4 people or more = 1
3. Did you drink alcohol or use drugs before you had sexual intercourse the last time?

-I have never had sexual intercourse = 0

-Yes =1

-No =0

4. The last time you had sexual intercourse, did you or your partner use a condom?

-I have never had sexual intercourse = 0

-Yes =0

-No =1

5. The last time you had sexual intercourse, what one method did you or your partner use to prevent
pregnancy? (Select only one response.)

-I have never had sexual intercourse = 0

-No method was used to prevent pregnancy =1

-Birth control pills =0

-Condoms =0

-Depo-Provera (or any injectable birth control), Nuva Ring (or any birth control ring), =0

-Implanon (or any implant), or any IUD =0

-Withdrawal =1

-Some other method =1

-Not sure =1

Benchmarks:

There are no formal benchmarks for this measure. Generally, benchmarks depend on the risk levels of
participants at baseline. For example, if 60 percent of sexually active participants endorse at least one
out of four risky behaviors at baseline, then a possible benchmark could be that no more than 30
percent of participants endorse at least one out of four risky behaviors. However, decisions about setting
benchmarks must be made at the program level.