Evaluation of non-response bias in mental health determinants and outcomes in a large sample of pre-adolescents

Abstract

Abstract. Since non-response may jeopardize the validity of studies, comprehensive assessment of nonresponse is a prerequisite for proper interpretation of study findings. Recently, the baseline assessment of the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS), a prospective cohort study among Dutch pre-adolescents, was completed. The aim of this report is to examine non-response bias by comparing responders and non-responders regarding mental health determinants (e.g., demographics and cognitive performance) and outcomes, as well as associations between the two. Furthermore, we examine whether extended efforts to recruit participants contribute to the prevention or reduction of nonresponse bias. Thanks to various recruitment procedures, the initial response rate of 66% increased to a final rate of 76%. The extended efforts to recruit participants prevented non-response bias in the prevalence rates of psychopathology. Although nonresponders differed from responders with respect to several individual characteristics, no significant differences were found regarding associations between these characteristics and psychopathology. We conclude that TRAILS provides a solid basis to improve our understanding of the development of mental health during adolescence.

Externalizing behaviors in preadolescents: familial risk to externalizing behaviors, prenatal and perinatal risks, and their interactions

“…The mean age of the children was 11.09 years (SD = 0.55); 50.8% were girls; 10.3% were children who had at least one parent born in a nonWestern country; and 32.6% of children had parents with a low educational level (i.e., a lower track of secondary education was the highest level attained). Responders and nonresponders did not differ with respect to the prevalence rates of psychopathology and associations between sociodemographic variables and mental health outcomes [14].…”

“…Participants were 10-to-12 years old and lived in the three largest cities and some rural areas in the north of the Netherlands. A detailed description of the sampling procedure and methods is provided elsewhere [14]. Briefly, the present study involves the first assessment wave of TRAILS, which ran from March 2001 to July 2002 [13,14,33,52].…”

“…A detailed description of the sampling procedure and methods is provided elsewhere [14]. Briefly, the present study involves the first assessment wave of TRAILS, which ran from March 2001 to July 2002 [13,14,33,52]. Of all children approached for enrollment in the study (i.e., children selected by the municipalities and attending a school that was willing to participate; N = 3,145 children from 122 schools, with 90.4% of the schools responding), 6.7% were excluded because of incapability or language problems.…”

Classes of adolescents with disruptive behaviors in a general population sample

“…Responders and nonresponders differed on various socio-demographic indicators, but not with respect to the proportion of single parent families nor on the prevalence of teacher-rated problem behavior. Furthermore, no differences between responders and nonresponders were found regarding associations between socio-demographic variables and mental health outcomes [14].…”

The relationship between parental religiosity and mental health of pre-adolescents in a community sample: the TRAILS study

“…However, children in the non-response group did need additional help for learning difficulties more frequently [22].…”