The effect of survey administration mode on youth mental health measures: Social desirability bias and sensitive questions.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Research on trends in youth mental health is used to inform government policy and service funding decisions. It often uses interviewer-administered surveys, which may be affected by mode effects related to social desirability bias. This study sought to determine the impact of survey administration mode on mental health measures, comparing mode effects for sensitive mental health measures (psychological distress and wellbeing) and non-sensitive (physical activity) measures.

Methods

Data were from two large national community samples of young Australians aged 12-25 years conducted in 2020 (N = 6238) and 2022 (N = 4122), which used both interviewer-administered and self-report modes of data collection.

Results

Results showed participants reported lower psychological

SUBMITTER: Rickwood DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10559918 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature