Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications
Measuring Sexual Orientation in Adolescent Health Surveys: Evaluation of Eight School-based Surveys
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2004
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume
35
Issue
4
First Page
345.e1
Last Page
345.e15
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.06.002
Abstract
PURPOSE: To examine the performance of various items measuring sexual orientation within 8 school-based adolescent health surveys in the United States and Canada from 1986 through 1999.
METHODS: Analyses examined nonresponse and unsure responses to sexual orientation items compared with other survey items, demographic differences in responses, tests for response set bias, and congruence of responses to multiple orientation items; analytical methods included frequencies, contingency tables with Chi-square, and ANOVA with least significant differences (LSD)post hoc tests; all analyses were conducted separately by gender.
RESULTS: In all surveys, nonresponse rates for orientation questions were similar to other sexual questions, but not higher; younger students, immigrants, and students with learning disabilities were more likely to skip items or select "unsure." Sexual behavior items had the lowest nonresponse, but fewer than half of all students reported sexual behavior, limiting its usefulness for indicating orientation. Item placement in the survey, wording, and response set bias all appeared to influence nonresponse and unsure rates.
CONCLUSIONS: Specific recommendations include standardizing wording across future surveys, and pilot testing items with diverse ages and ethnic groups of teens before use. All three dimensions of orientation should be assessed where possible; when limited to single items, sexual attraction may be the best choice. Specific wording suggestions are offered for future surveys.
Notes
Dr. Greta Bauer is currently a faculty member at The University of Western Ontario.