Development and Validation of a POSIT-Short Form: Screening for Problem Behaviors Among Adolescents at Risk for Substance Use

• NCJ Number: 196624
• Journal: Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: 2002 Pages: 17-36
• Author(s): Evangeline R. Danseco; Paul R. Marques
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): R03-AA12184-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the development and use of a shortened version of the Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers in Kansas.

Abstract

Screening adolescents at risk for substance abuse is the goal of the Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT). For cost efficiency, a shortened version of the POSIT instrument was developed in order to screen youths entering the juvenile justice system. This article discusses the development and use of the shortened POSIT form, POSIT-SF, in Kansas. After discussing POSIT’s use in detecting the multiple problems experienced by adolescents seeking treatment for substance abuse, the authors describe the development of the POSIT-SF. Using factor analysis, item-scale correlational and reliability analyses, and 3,464 full-length versions of POSIT’s from youths entering the Kansas juvenile system, researchers created a 64-item shortened POSIT form. A series of tables show the items included in the POSIT-SF from the full-length POSIT. The authors indicate that the POSIT-SF demonstrates good reliability, with scales being consistent with the full-length POSIT. Several tables are presented to indicate the correlations of POSIT-SF scales with criterion measures. The authors conclude that the POSIT-SF is a cost-efficient and reliable screening tool for assessing youth with substance abuse problems. Tables, references