TY - JOUR
T1 - The validity of measures of socioeconomic status of adolescents
AU - Ensminger, Margaret E.
AU - Forrest, Christopher B.
AU - Riley, Anne W.
AU - Kang, Myungsa
AU - Green, Bert F.
AU - Starfield, Barbara
AU - Ryan, Sheryl A.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - This study examines the validity of measures of socioeconomic status (SES) as reported by adolescents. Adolescents completed a self-administered questionnaire that included eight measures of SES. Mothers also reported on selected measures of SES. Supporting criterion validity, adolescents and mothers had relatively high agreement on the SES measures. Older adolescents, those less involved in risk behaviors, and those who do better in school gave more accurate SES reports and/or were less likely to have missing SES data. Those in households without fathers were less likely to know fathers' information. Income was not asked of the adolescents. However, most adolescent-reported SES questions varied systematically and in the expected direction with mothers' income report. In terms of construct validity, the SES measures related to adolescent health measures in the predicted way - that is, those with higher SES were more likely to report better physical and emotional health.
AB - This study examines the validity of measures of socioeconomic status (SES) as reported by adolescents. Adolescents completed a self-administered questionnaire that included eight measures of SES. Mothers also reported on selected measures of SES. Supporting criterion validity, adolescents and mothers had relatively high agreement on the SES measures. Older adolescents, those less involved in risk behaviors, and those who do better in school gave more accurate SES reports and/or were less likely to have missing SES data. Those in households without fathers were less likely to know fathers' information. Income was not asked of the adolescents. However, most adolescent-reported SES questions varied systematically and in the expected direction with mothers' income report. In terms of construct validity, the SES measures related to adolescent health measures in the predicted way - that is, those with higher SES were more likely to report better physical and emotional health.
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U2 - 10.1177/0743558400153005
DO - 10.1177/0743558400153005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0034395873
SN - 0743-5584
VL - 15
SP - 392
EP - 419
JO - Journal of adolescent research
JF - Journal of adolescent research
IS - 3
ER -