The aim of the present study was to analyze the reliability and evidence of convergent validity of self-rated single items for specific health assessments among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 650 Brazilian adolescents who answered a questionnaire containing 12 self-rated single items for specific health assessments. In addition, the respective measures of health were estimated using validated questionnaires or multi-item scales. The health measures were diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, musculoskeletal symptoms, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, daytime sleepiness, duration of sleep, and mental health. The reliability of the single items was analyzed using a seven-day test-retest. The Kappa coefficient of agreement (k) and prevalence ratios (PR) obtained by Poisson regression were adopted. Self-report single items presented acceptable reliability (k = 0.50–0.78) and absolute agreement values varying from 80.6 to 88.9%. Self-rated diet was associated with consumption of salads, vegetables and greens (PR = 1.53 and 1.77) and any vegetable intake (PR = 1.30) (P < 0.05). Self-rated sedentary behavior was associated with TV and internet use on weekdays (PR = 1.17–1.73) and TV use (PR = 1.36–1.59) on the weekend, but the associations were dependent on the volume analyzed. Poor self-rated physical activity (PR = 1.44–4.16), alcohol consumption (PR = 2.04–2.45), tobacco use (PR = 1.54–1.56), sleep-related variables (PR = 1.28–1.81), musculoskeletal health (PR = 1.28–1.73), and mental health (PR = 1.51–3.43) were significantly and consistently associated with their respective health measure (P < 0.05), even when multiple outcomes were tested. The self-rated single items analyzed presented acceptable reliability and evidence of convergent validity. Although these single items do not substitute complete questionnaires, multi-item scales, or objective measures of health, they can be used as an additional tool for adolescent self-rated health assessments in different contexts.
Citation: Diogo Henrique Constantino Coledam, Jeniphier Stephanie Fidelis Trevizani, Eduarda Galvani Galera. Usefulness of self-rated single items for health-related factors assessments among adolescents: Evidence of convergent validity from a cross-sectional study[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2026, 13(1): 111-127. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2026008
The aim of the present study was to analyze the reliability and evidence of convergent validity of self-rated single items for specific health assessments among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 650 Brazilian adolescents who answered a questionnaire containing 12 self-rated single items for specific health assessments. In addition, the respective measures of health were estimated using validated questionnaires or multi-item scales. The health measures were diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, musculoskeletal symptoms, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, daytime sleepiness, duration of sleep, and mental health. The reliability of the single items was analyzed using a seven-day test-retest. The Kappa coefficient of agreement (k) and prevalence ratios (PR) obtained by Poisson regression were adopted. Self-report single items presented acceptable reliability (k = 0.50–0.78) and absolute agreement values varying from 80.6 to 88.9%. Self-rated diet was associated with consumption of salads, vegetables and greens (PR = 1.53 and 1.77) and any vegetable intake (PR = 1.30) (P < 0.05). Self-rated sedentary behavior was associated with TV and internet use on weekdays (PR = 1.17–1.73) and TV use (PR = 1.36–1.59) on the weekend, but the associations were dependent on the volume analyzed. Poor self-rated physical activity (PR = 1.44–4.16), alcohol consumption (PR = 2.04–2.45), tobacco use (PR = 1.54–1.56), sleep-related variables (PR = 1.28–1.81), musculoskeletal health (PR = 1.28–1.73), and mental health (PR = 1.51–3.43) were significantly and consistently associated with their respective health measure (P < 0.05), even when multiple outcomes were tested. The self-rated single items analyzed presented acceptable reliability and evidence of convergent validity. Although these single items do not substitute complete questionnaires, multi-item scales, or objective measures of health, they can be used as an additional tool for adolescent self-rated health assessments in different contexts.
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Diogo Henrique Constantino Coledam, Jeniphier Stephanie Fidelis Trevizani, Eduarda Galvani Galera. Usefulness of self-rated single items for health-related factors assessments among adolescents: Evidence of convergent validity from a cross-sectional study[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2026, 13(1): 111-127. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2026008
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