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

ABSTRACT

The Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) screens for multiple problems among adolescents at risk for substance use. To provide cost-efficient intake procedures, a shortened version of the POSIT was developed, using factor analysis, correlational and reliability analyses, based on full version POSITs of youth entering the Kansas juvenile justice system (n = 3,464). A short form with 64 items across eight scales showed good reliability, and scales were consistent with the full-length POSIT. Moderate correlations with criterion measures were obtained for the POSIT-Short Form scales except the Vocational Status scale, using the original POSIT validation sample (n = 346). The POSIT-SF shows potential for a reliable and cost-efficient screen for youth with substance abuse problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescence
• assessment
• screening test
• substance abuse
• problem behaviors