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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to describe psychometric properties of weight behavior and cognition instruments utilized with African American adolescents.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify methodological issues and recommendations related to instrumentation in African American adolescents.
Methods: African American adolescents (n=145), 15 to 17, were recruited from community settings within a large metropolitan area. Variables of interest were perceived familial socialization (Sociocultural Influences Questionnaire – Father and Mother) , ethnic identity (Multi-Ethnic Identity Measure), physical activity (Physical Activity Questionnaire - Adolescent), eating behaviors (Eating Behavior Patterns Questionnaire) , and social physique anxiety (Social Physique Anxiety Scale). The psychometric properties of each measure were assessed with this study sample. Internal consistency was determined by Cronbach’s alpha value for each measure. Utilizing 15% of the sample through random assignment, test retest reliability was assessed.
Results: Psychometric properties and test-retest reliability were determined in the current sample as follows: SIQ – father, Cronbach’s alpha = .739 and SIQ – mother, Cronbach’s alpha = .644. The test-retest reliability was also determined for the SIQ – father (r = .679, p = 0.0001) and SIQ – mother (r = .598, p = 0.0001). MEIM: Cronbach’s alpha = .780 and test-retest reliability (r = .782, p = 0.0001). PAQ-A: Cronbach’s alpha = .889 and test-retest reliability (r = .736, p = 0.0001). EBPQ: Cronbach’s alpha = .777 and test-retest reliability (r = .802, p = 0.0001). SPAS: Cronbach’s alpha = .636 and test-retest reliability (r = .896, p = 0.0001). The Cronbach alpha increased from .437 to .636 after item 11 was excluded in the reliability analysis, “When in a bathing suit or swimming trunks, I often feel nervous about the shape of my body.”
Conclusion:
Instruments for the current study have been utilized and tested extensively in the adolescent population; however, there has been limited use in adolescents of color. In the current study, the instruments demonstrated moderate to high reliabilities, ranging from .70 to .90.