Adolescent Interviews

Draft: 040307

Appendix C:

ADOLESCENT INTERVIEW

Hello. My name is ________ and I am calling from a company called Abt Associates. We are doing a study for the US Department of Health and Human Services. You have been randomly chosen for a national survey sponsored by this government agency. It is a research study of parents and teens. We want to find out what they think about teens not having sex.

We will not ask any questions about what young people, like you, actually do. We will ask about what you think and believe and how you talk about this issue. Earlier, we interviewed your [MKP]. Now, we would like to interview you.

This interview will take about 20 minutes. I will be asking you about a number of issues. All of your answers will be kept as private as possible. We will not share your answers with your [MKP] or anyone else in your household. Your answers will only be used for research purposes. This means that your answers and those of your (MKP) will be combined with those of other teens and parents. Your names will not be connected with your answers.

Completing this survey is your choice. Even though your [MKP] gave us permission to interview you, you may choose not to take part in this study. You may choose not to answer any question for any reason. You can stop at any time. If I ask a question you don’t want to answer, just let me know and I’ll go on to the next one.

Finally, to grade my performance, my supervisor may record and listen as I ask the questions.

1. Would you like to take part in this study?

YES [ASK 1]	01
NO [GO TO B]	02
REFUSED [GO TO B]	97
DON’T KNOW [GO TO C]	98

2. I understand. I want to thank you very much for your time. Have a good (day/evening). Good-bye

2. Can I answer any (other) questions for you?

YES [ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS, GO TO A]	01
NO [GO TO D]	02
REFUSED [GO TO B]	97
DON’T KNOW [GO TO D]	98

2. I understand. Do you need more time to think about this?

YES [SCHEDULE CALLBACK]	01
NO [GO TO B]	02
REFUSED [GO TO B]	97
DON’T KNOW [SCHEDULE CALLBACK]	98

1. In what month and year were you born?

__/____

2. Are you currently enrolled in school?

YES [ASK 2a]	01
NO [ASK 2b]	02
REFUSED [SKIP TO 3]	97
DON’T KNOW [SKIP TO 3]	98

2a. [IF YES] What grade are you in?

GRADE 6	01
GRADE 7	02
GRADE 8	03
GRADE 9 (freshman)	04
GRADE 10 (sophomore)	05
GRADE 11 (junior)	06
GRADE 12 (senior)	07
OTHER ___________________________	08

2b. [IF NO] What was the last grade you completed?

5th GRADE OR LESS	01
GRADE 6	02
GRADE 7	03
GRADE 8	04
GRADE 9 (freshman)	05
GRADE 10 (sophomore)	06
GRADE 11 (junior)	07
GRADE 12 (senior)	08
OTHER ___________________________	09
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

3. How often do you and your (MKP) do things together that you personally enjoy? (MPR Wave 1, 1.14)

Once a week or more often than that	01
2-3 times a month	02
Once a month	03
Less than once a month	04
Never	05
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

4. Would you say your relationship with your (MKP) is…

Very good	01
Fairly good	02
Fairly poor	03
Very poor	04
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

5. Please think about the past 12 months. How often did you attend religious services or programs? (MPR version 1, Males, 5.6)

Once a week or more often than that	01
2-3 times a month	02
Once a month	03
Less than once a month	04
Never	05
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

Parent-teen communication re: abstinence and other messages

6. Now I would like to ask you some questions about the kinds of things you talk to your [MKP] about. We have tried to use terms that young teens as well as older ones will understand. Some of these terms may seem simple. But, if you have questions about what we mean, please ask me. How many times have you ever talked with your [MKP] about (INSERT ISSUE)? Would you say never, once or twice, or more than twice? (MPR Wave 2, 3.16)

		Never	1-2 times	>2 times	Ref	DK
a.	The basics of how babies are made, pregnancy, or birth	01	02	03	97	98
b.	Sexually transmitted diseases, STDs, or HIV/AIDS	01	02	03	97	98
c.	How to have good relationships	01	02	03	97	98
d.	How to behave on dates	01	02	03	97	98
e.	How to resist pressures to have sexual intercourse. By sexual intercourse, we mean “going all the way” or the act by which babies are made.	01	02	03	97	98
f.	Waiting to have sexual intercourse until you are married. IF NECESSARY: By sexual intercourse, we mean “going all the way,” the act by which babies are made.	01	02	03	97	98
g.	Avoiding drugs and alcohol	01	02	03	97	98
h.	How religious values relate to sexual intercourse	01	02	03	97	98

NOTE TO COGNITIVE TESTING STAFF: FOR TESTING PURPOSES, FOR EACH ITEM ABOVE, ASK:

How many times in total have you talked about this topic with (NAME/this teenager?

Item	Number of times
The basics of how babies are made, pregnancy or birth
Sexually transmitted diseases, STDs, or HIV/AIDS
How to have good relationships
How to behave on dates
How to resist pressures to have sexual intercourse.
Waiting to have sexual intercourse until (he/she) is married.
Avoiding drugs and alcohol
How religious values relate to sexual intercourse

7. During the past year, have you had conversations with your parents about sex or sexual issues?

YES		01
NO		02
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

8. With which parent do you talk the most about sex or sexual issues? [new question]

MKP	01
NON-MKP	02
Both the same	03
Neither [SKIP TO 9] …………………………….	04
OTHER (specify) _________________________	05
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

8a. How often during the past year have you and your parents talked about what is right and wrong or good and bad about having sex? (MPR)

Never		01
One or two times		02
More than two times		02
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

9. I’m about to ask you questions and you may not want anyone who is nearby to hear your answers. As you are speaking with me, is there someone there with you who can overhear your answers?

YES [ASK 9a]	01
NO [ASK 10]	02
DON’T KNOW	98

9a. If you are using a push button phone, you can use the number pad on your phone to tell me what your answer is. Again, this helps keep your answers extra private. Would you like to use this technology with me?

YES... Okay. Here’s the first question (READ DG TEXT)	01
NO... Okay. Let’s continue then	02
Don’t know... It’s turned on. Tell me when you want to use it. Here’s the first question.	98

DG10. In general, how close do you feel to your (MKP)? Would you say you are….(MPR Wave 1, 1.15)

DIGIT GRABBER: Let me read the choices first before you give me your answer. If you are not at all close, press 1; if you are a little close, press 2; if you are close, press 3; if you are very close, press 4.

Not at all close	01
A little close	02
Close	03
Very close	04
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

DG11. How comfortable are you talking to your (MKP) about sex? Would you say you are…(MPR Wave 2, 4.8 adapted to 4 point scale instead of 3 point)

DIGIT GRABBER: If you are not at all comfortable, press 1. If you are a little comfortable, press 2. If you are comfortable, press 3. If you are very comfortable, press 4.

Not at all comfortable	01
A little comfortable	02
Comfortable	03
Very comfortable	04
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

DG12. How comfortable do you think your [MKP] is talking to you about sex? (new question)

DIGIT GRABBER: If you think s/he is not at all comfortable, press 1. If s/he is a little comfortable, press 2. If s/he is comfortable, press 3. If s/he is very comfortable, press 4.

Not at all comfortable	01
A little comfortable	02
Comfortable	03
Very comfortable	04
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

Attitudes about abstinence

DG13. Now, I want to get your opinions about sexual intercourse. Again, by sexual intercourse, we mean “going all the way,” the act by which babies are made. (Please use the number buttons on your phone to give me answers, so no one can overhear you.) For each of the following statements, (tell me) if you strongly agree, (press 1; if you) agree, (press 2; if you) disagree, (press 3); or if you strongly disagree, (press 4). (MPR Wave 2, 2.5)

		Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	REFUSED	DON’T KNOW
a.	Having sexual intercourse is a good thing for you to do at your age.	01	02	03	04	97		98
b.	It would be against your values for you to have sexual intercourse before marriage.	01	02	03	04	97		98
c.	Having sexual intercourse is something only married people should do.	01	02	03	04	97		98
d.	It would be okay for you to have sexual intercourse if you have been dating the same person for at least one year.	01	02	03	04	97		98
e.	It would be okay for you to have sexual intercourse before marriage if you plan to marry the person.	01	02	03	04	97		98
f.	It would be okay for you to have sexual intercourse as long as you and your partner think that it is okay.	01	02	03	04	97		98
g.	At your age, having sexual intercourse would create problems or would make your life difficult.	01	02	03	04	97		98
h.	It would be okay for you to have sexual intercourse before you leave high school.	01	02	03	04	97		98
i.	It is okay for you to have sexual intercourse if you use a condom or some other kind of birth control.	01	02	03	04	97		98
j.	It would be against your (MKP’s) values for you to have sexual intercourse before you are married.	01	02	03	04	97		98

DG14. Thinking about conversations you have had with your parents, which of the following statements describes what your parents have told you about having sexual intercourse. (new question, Zogby response categories)

		YES	NO	REFUSED	DON’T KNOW
a.	Young people should not engage in sexual intercourse until they are married.	01	02	97	98
b.	Young people should not engage in sexual intercourse until they are in a relationship with someone they feel they would like to marry.	01	02	97	98
c.	Young people should not engage in sexual intercourse until they have, at least, finished high school.	01	02	97	98
d.	It’s okay for young people to engage in sexual intercourse as long as condoms are used to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.	01	02	97	98

DG15. Which of the statements best describes what you would like to hear from your parents? Let me read you all the choices before you answer. (new question, Zogby response categories)

Young people should not engage in sexual intercourse until they are married. .	01
Young people should not engage in sexual intercourse until they have, at least, finished high school and are in a relationship with someone they feel they would like to marry.	02
Young people should not engage in sexual intercourse until they have, at least, finished high school	03
It’s okay for young people in school to engage in sexual intercourse as long as they use condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy	04
DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE	98
REFUSED	97

Exposure to abstinence education

16. Now I am going to read you some topics that may be covered in a class or other programs. For each topic I read, please tell me if the topic was included in a class or program you have participated in.

[New question]; response categories for Kaiser, Sex Education in America]

		YES	NO	REFUSED	DON’T KNOW
a.	The basics of how babies are made, pregnancy, or birth.	01	02	97	98
b.	How to have good relationships	01	02	97	98
c.	How to behave on dates	01	02	97	98
d.	How to resist pressures to have sexual intercourse. IF NECESSARY: By sexual intercourse, we mean” going all the way,” the act by which babies are made.	01	02	97	98
e.	Waiting to have sexual intercourse until you are married. IF NECESSARY: By sexual intercourse, we mean “going all the way,” the act by which babies are made.	01	02	97	98
f.	How religious values relate to sexual intercourse	01	02	97	98
g.	Avoiding drugs and alcohol	01	02	97	98

IF ALL ANSWERS IN 16 ARE NO, SKIP TO 18

17. Please tell me where you took classes or took part in a program that talked about (LIST YES RESPONSES IN 13)? Was it at …[CODE ALL THAT APPLY]

		YES	NO	REFUSED	DON’T KNOW
a.	School	01	02	97	98
b.	A health center, health clinic, or doctor’s office	01	02	97	98
c.	A place of worship	01	02	97	98
d.	A community organization	01	02	97	98
e.	Or some other place (SPECIFY) ____________	01	02	97	98

DG18. Have you ever used an educational website to get information on how to resist pressures to have sexual intercourse?

YES	01
NO	02
DON’T KNOW	98

DG19. If you could only talk to one person about sex and sexual issues, who would that person be? [DO NOT READ CATEGORIES. CODE FROM LIST.]

MOTHER	01
FATHER.	02
BROTHER OR SISTER	03
OTHER ADULT RELATIVE (SPECIFY)_________________	03
ADULT FRIENDS	04
FRIENDS MY OWN AGE	06
TEACHER	07
BROTHER OR SISTER	08
MINISTER, PRIEST, RABBI	09
DOCTOR OR NURSE	10
OTHER (SPECIFY)_________________	11
DON’T KNOW/NOT SURE	98
REFUSED	97

DG20. Now think about your closest friends who are your age and who you spend the most time with. How many of these friends think someone should wait until marriage before having sexual intercourse? Would you say…

DIGIT GRABBER: If none of them, press 1. If some of them, press 2. If most of them, press 3. If all of them, press 4. (MPR Wave 1, 3.46, adapted)

None	01
Some of them	02
Most of the them	03
All of them	04
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

DG21. How many of these friends think it is okay for young people your age to have sexual intercourse? Would you say…

DIGIT GRABBER: If none of them, press 1. If some of them press 2. If most of them, press 3. If all of them, press 4.

None	01
Some of them	02
Most of the them	03
All of them	04
DON’T KNOW	98
REFUSED	97

DG22. How often do you talk to these friends about sexual values? Would you say (new question)

Often	01
Sometimes	02
Never	03
DON’T KNOW	98

DG23. Have you ever made a pledge in public or a written pledge not to have sexual intercourse until you are married? (MPR, Add Health, NSFG)

Yes	01
No DON’T KNOW REFUSED	02 98 97

That’s all the questions I have. Thank you very much for talking to me today.

Abt Associates Inc. Adolescent Interview 12