Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

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

  • Psychiatric Epidemiology
  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since non-response may jeopardize the validity of studies, comprehensive assessment of non-response 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 non-response 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 non-responders 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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CI:

confidence interval

GLM:

generalized linear model

OR:

odds Ratio

TRAILS:

tracking adolescents’ individual lives survey

References

  • NA Brandenburg RM Friedman SE Silver (1990) ArticleTitleThe epidemiology of childhood psychiatric disorders: Prevalence findings from recent studies. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 29 76–83 Occurrence Handle2295582 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004583-199001000-00013 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3c7gvF2rtA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CL Frame CC Strauss (1987) ArticleTitleParental informed consent and sample bias in grade-school children. J Soc Clin Psychol 5 227–236

    Google Scholar 

  • MH Gerrits den Oord EJ van R Voogt (2001) ArticleTitleAn evaluation of nonresponse bias in peer, self, and teacher ratings of children’s psychosocial adjustment. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 42 593–602 Occurrence Handle11464964 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0021963001007338 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38%2Fit1eltA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RB Noll MH Zeller K Vannatta WM Bukowski WH Davies (1997) ArticleTitlePotential bias in classroom research: Comparison of children with permission and those who do not receive permission to participate. J Clin Child Psychol 26 36–42 Occurrence Handle9118174 Occurrence Handle10.1207/s15374424jccp2601_4 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s3hsVOjsA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PM Lewinsohn H Hops RE Roberts JR Seeley JA Andrews (1993) ArticleTitleAdolescents psychopathology: I. Prevalence and incidence of depression and other DSM-III-R disorders in high school students. J Abnorm Psychol 102 133–144 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3s7ntFCisg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MP Dunne NG Martin JM Bailey et al. (1997) ArticleTitleParticipation bias in a sexuality survey: Psychological and behavioural characteristics of responders and non-responders. Int J Epidemiol 26 844–854 Occurrence Handle9279618 Occurrence Handle10.1093/ije/26.4.844 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2svisFGlug%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RC Kessler RJ Little RM Groves (1995) ArticleTitleAdvances in strategies for minimizing and adjusting for survey nonresponse. Epidemiol Rev 17 192–204 Occurrence Handle8521937 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK28%2FltFCltQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Groves RM. Survey Errors and Survey Costs. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1989.

  • TA Heberlein R Baumgartner (1978) ArticleTitleFactors affecting response rates to mailed questionnaires: A quantitative analysis of the published literature. Am Sociol Rev 43 447–462 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2094771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TM Achenbach (1991) Manual of the Teacher’s Report Form and 1991 Profile. University of Vermont Burlington

    Google Scholar 

  • JB Kupersmidt JD Coie (1990) ArticleTitlePreadolescent peer status, aggression, and school adjustment as predictors of externalizing problems in adolescence. Child Dev 61 1350–1362 Occurrence Handle2245729 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1130747 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3M%2FlvFOluw%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Darroch (1997) ArticleTitleBiologic synergism and parallelism. Am J Epidemiol 145 661–668 Occurrence Handle9098184 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s3lt1OhtA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FC Verhulst EJ der ParticleVan RF Ferdinand MC Kasius (1997) ArticleTitleThe prevalence of DSM-III-R diagnoses in a national sample of Dutch adolescents. Arch Gen Psychiatry 54 329–336 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s3mtFWqtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9107149

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Hackett L Hackett P Bhakta S Gowers (1999) ArticleTitleThe prevalence and associations of psychiatric disorder in children in Kerala, South India. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 40 801–807 Occurrence Handle10433413 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0021963099004011 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzmtVOqtw%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RE Roberts CC Attkisson A Rosenblatt (1998) ArticleTitlePrevalence of psychopathology among children and adolescents. Am J Psychiatry 155 715–725 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3ot12jsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9619142

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D Newman TE Moffitt A Caspi L Magdol PA Silva W Stanton (1996) ArticleTitlePsychiatric disorder in a birth cohort of young adults: Prevalence, comorbidity, clinical significance, and new case incidence from age 11 to 21. J Consul Clin Psychol 64 552–562 Occurrence Handle10.1037/0022-006X.64.3.552 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK28zgtVyjsw%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MB Hofstra EJ der ParticleVan FC Verhulst (2002) ArticleTitlePathways of self-reported problem behaviors from adolescence into adulthood. Am J Psychiatry 159 401–407 Occurrence Handle11870003 Occurrence Handle10.1176/appi.ajp.159.3.401

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RF Ferdinand M Blum FC Verhulst (2001) ArticleTitlePsychopathology in adolescence predicts substance use in young adulthood. Addiction 96 861–870 Occurrence Handle11399217 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.9668617.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MzjtFCntQ%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JS Brook P Cohen DW Brook (1998) ArticleTitleLongitudinal study of co-occurring psychiatric disorders and substance use. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 37 322–330 Occurrence Handle9519638 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7otVWltQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004583-199803000-00018

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JS Brook M Whiteman SJ Finch P Cohen (1996) ArticleTitleYoung adult drug use and delinquency: Childhood antecedents and adolescent mediators. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35 1584–1592 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004583-199612000-00009 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s7ivVCktQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle8973064

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S Milberger J Biederman SV Faraone L Chen J Jones (1997) ArticleTitleADHD is associated with early initiation of cigarette smoking in children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36 37–44 Occurrence Handle9000779 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004583-199701000-00015 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s7ltlynug%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DM Fergusson LJ Horwood FT Shannon JM Lawton (1989) ArticleTitleThe Christchurch Child Development Study: A review of epidemiological findings. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 3 302–325 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1Mzms12jtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle2671961 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1365-3016.1989.tb00382.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RF Ferdinand FC Verhulst (1995) ArticleTitlePsychopathology from adolescence into young adulthood: And 8-year follow-up study. Am J Psychiatry 152 1586–1594 Occurrence Handle7485620 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK28%2FktF2nuw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DM Fergusson MT Lynskey LJ Horwood (1996) ArticleTitleFactors associated with continuity and changes in disruptive behavior patterns between childhood and adolescence. J Abnorm Child Psychol 24 533–553 Occurrence Handle8956083 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01670099 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2s7hsVegtg%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S Laitinen-Krispijn Jvd Ende AAJM Hazebroek-Kampschreur FC Verhulst (1999) ArticleTitlePubertal maturation and the development of behavioural and emotional problems in early adolescence. Acta Psy Scand 99 16–25 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb05380.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M7mtlyrtA%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MB Hofstra EJ der ParticleVan FC Verhulst (2001) ArticleTitleAdolescents’ self-reported problems as predictors of psychopathology in adulthood: 10-year follow-up study. Br J Psychiatry 179 203–209 Occurrence Handle11532796 Occurrence Handle10.1192/bjp.179.3.203 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MvovFyrsg%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HU Wittchen MB Stein RC Kessler (1999) ArticleTitleSocial fears and social phobia in a community sample of adolescents and young adults: Prevalence, risk factors and co-morbidity. Psychol Med 29 309–323 Occurrence Handle10218923 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0033291798008174 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3jtlejtQ%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DM Fergusson LJ Horwood (2001) ArticleTitleThe Christchurch Health and Development Study: Review of findings on child and adolescent mental health. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 35 287–296 Occurrence Handle11437801 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00902.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MzosVeitg%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Woodward P Williams J Nursten D Badger (1999) ArticleTitleThe epidemiology of mentally disordered offending: A systematic review of studies, based in the general population, of criminality combined with psychiatric illness. J Epidemiol Biostat 4 101–113 Occurrence Handle10619057 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c%2FosFOktQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EJ Costello S Mustillo A Erkanli G Keeler A Angold (2003) ArticleTitlePrevalence and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 60 837–844 Occurrence Handle12912767 Occurrence Handle10.1001/archpsyc.60.8.837

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A Caspi J McClay TE Moffitt et al. (2002) ArticleTitleRole of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children. Science 297 851–854 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.1072290 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlvV2jsbg%3D Occurrence Handle12161658

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PA Silva WR Stanton (1996) From child to adult. The Dunedin multidisciplinary health and development study Oxford University Press Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Steeh CG. Trends in Nonresponse Rates, 1952–1979. Public Opinion Quarterly 45, 40–57. 1981. Elsevier North-Holland, Inc.

  • SG Riedel-Heller A Schork H Matschinger MC Angermeyer (2000) ArticleTitleRecruitment procedures and their impact on the prevalence of dementia. Results from the Leipzig Longitudinal Study of the Aged (LEILA75+) Neuroepidemiology 19 130–140 Occurrence Handle10705231 Occurrence Handle10.1159/000026248 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7ntFOitg%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LF Voigt TD Koepsell JR Daling (2003) ArticleTitleCharacteristics of telephone survey respondents according to willingness to participate. Am J Epidemiol 157 66–73 Occurrence Handle12505892 Occurrence Handle10.1093/aje/kwf185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Brogger P Bakke GE Eide A Gulsvik (2003) ArticleTitleContribution of follow-up of non-responders to prevalence and risk estimates: A Norwegian respiratory health survey. Am J Epidemiol 157 558–566 Occurrence Handle12631547 Occurrence Handle10.1093/aje/kwg003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • P Bakke A Gulsvik P Lilleng O Overa R Hanoa GE Eide (1990) ArticleTitlePostal survey on airborne occupational exposure and respiratory disorders in Norway: Causes and consequences of non-response. J Epidemiol Commun Health 44 316–320 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3M7hs1amtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1136/jech.44.4.316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Paganini-Hill G Hsu A Chao RK Ross (1993) ArticleTitleComparison of early and late respondents to a postal health survey questionnaire. Epidemiology 4 375–379 Occurrence Handle8347749 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00001648-199307000-00014 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3szltVSltA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goor van H, Verhage AL. Nonresponse and recall errors in a study of absence because of Illness: An analysis of their effects on distributions and relationships. Quality and Quantity 33, 411–428. 1999. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • G Esser MH Schmidt W Woerner (1990) ArticleTitleEpidemiology and course of psychiatric disorders in school-age children–results of a longitudinal study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 31 243–263 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3c7os12ntg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle2312652 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1469-7610.1990.tb01565.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • K Sheikh (1998) ArticleTitleLate response vs. non-response to mail questionnaire Ann Epidemiol 8 75–76 Occurrence Handle9465997 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1047-2797(97)00128-2 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7islWntw%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea F. de Winter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Winter, A.F., Oldehinkel, A.J., Veenstra, R. et al. Evaluation of non-response bias in mental health determinants and outcomes in a large sample of pre-adolescents. Eur J Epidemiol 20, 173–181 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-4948-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-4948-6

Keywords

Navigation