Student Survey of Risk Factors (SSRF)

Description

This document presents the “Student Survey of Risk and Protective Factors and Prevalence of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use,” aimed at identifying various risk and protective factors associated with substance use among adolescents. The survey addresses crucial areas such as academic performance, personal attitudes, peer relationships, family dynamics, and community influences, providing a comprehensive understanding of how these elements correlate with drug and alcohol use among students. By analyzing responses, the outcomes will potentially contribute to developing targeted interventions to enhance protective factors and mitigate risks, ultimately fostering healthier behaviors in youth. The document includes a series of questions designed to be filled out confidentially, providing insights into the various influences students experience within their social and familial environments.

Authors and Contact Email

– Michael W. Arthur, Ph.D.
– J. David Hawkins, Ph.D.
– Richard F. Catalano, Ph.D.
Contact Email: [email protected]

Purpose

To assess risk and protective factors related to substance use among adolescents, identify prevalence rates, and highlight correlations between various influences on students’ behaviors.

Test Year

Information not available

Administration Method and Scoring

The survey is self-administered, with respondents marking answers using a blue or black pen or pencil. Responses are designed to be read automatically by a computer, requiring careful adherence to provided instructions.

Reliability and Validity

Information not available

Factors and Subscales

1. School and Academics
2. Personal Attitudes and Beliefs
3. Peer Relationships
4. Family Relationships
5. Drug and Alcohol Use/Attitudes
6. Communities and Neighborhoods

Keywords

Adolescent substance use, risk factors, protective factors, survey, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, academic performance, peer influence, family dynamics.

Items of ‘Student Survey of Risk and Protective Factors’

1. How old are you? 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or older
2. What grade are you in? 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th
3. Are you: Female, Male
4. What do you consider yourself to be? (Choose one best answer.)
5. What is the zip code where you live?
6. Where are you living now? (Options include On a farm, In the country, not on a farm, In a city, town, or suburb)
7. Which one of the following schools is closest to where you live?
8. Putting them all together, what were your grades like last year? (Options: Mostly F’s, Mostly D’s, Mostly C’s, Mostly B’s, Mostly A’s)
9. During the LAST FOUR WEEKS how many whole days of school have you missed because you skipped or “cut”? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4-5, 6-10, 11 or more)
10. In my school, students have lots of chances to help decide things like class activities and rules. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
11. Teachers ask me to work on special classroom projects. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
12. My teacher(s) notice when I am doing a good job and let me know about it. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
13. There are lots of chances for students in my school to get involved in sports, clubs, and other school activities outside of class. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
14. There are lots of chances for students in my school to talk with a teacher one-on-one. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
15. I feel safe at my school. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
16. The school lets my parents know when I have done something well. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
17. My teachers praise me when I work hard in school. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
18. Are your school grades better than the grades of most students in your class? (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
19. There are lots of chances to be part of class discussions or activities. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
20. How often do you feel that the school work you are assigned is meaningful and important? (Options: Never, Seldom, Sometimes, Often, Almost Always)
21. How interesting are most of your courses to you? (Options: Very interesting and stimulating, Quite interesting, Fairly interesting, Slightly dull, Very dull)
22. How important do you think the things you are learning in school are going to be for your later life? (Options: Very important, Quite important, Fairly important, Slightly important, Not at all important)
23. Now thinking back over the past year in school, how often did you:
a. enjoy being in school?
b. hate being in school?
c. try to do your best work in school?
(Options for each: Never, Seldom, Sometimes, Often, Almost Always)
24. Think of your four best friends (the friends you feel closest to). In the past year (12 months), how many of your best friends have…
a. smoked cigarettes? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
b. tried beer, wine, or hard liquor? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
c. used marijuana? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
d. used illegal drugs? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
e. been suspended from school? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
f. carried a handgun? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
g. sold illegal drugs? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
h. stolen or tried to steal a motor vehicle? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
i. been arrested? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
j. dropped out of school? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
k. been members of a gang? (Options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4)
25. How old were you when you first:
a. smoked marijuana? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
b. smoked a cigarette? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
c. had more than a sip or two of alcohol? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
d. begun drinking alcohol regularly? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
e. got suspended from school? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
f. got arrested? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
g. carried a handgun? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
h. attacked someone with the idea of seriously hurting them? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
i. belonged to a gang? (Options: Never Have, 10 or Younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or Older)
26. How wrong do you think it is for someone your age to:
a. take a handgun to school? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
b. steal anything worth more than $5? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
c. pick a fight with someone? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
d. attack someone with the idea of seriously hurting them? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
e. stay away from school all day when their parents think they are at school? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
f. drink alcohol regularly? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
g. smoke cigarettes? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
h. smoke marijuana? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
i. use illegal drugs? (Options: Very Wrong, Wrong, A Little Bit Wrong, Not Wrong at All)
27. I ignore rules that get in my way. (Options: Very False, Somewhat False, Somewhat True, Very True)
28. It is all right to beat up people if they start the fight. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
29. It is important to be honest with your parents. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
30. I do the opposite of what people tell me just to get them mad. (Options: Very False, Somewhat False, Somewhat True, Very True)
31. I think it is okay to take something without asking if you can get away with it. (Response Options: NO! no, yes, YES!)
32. How many times have you done the following things?
a. Done crazy things even if they are a little dangerous (Response Options: Never, I’ve done it, but not in the past year, Less than once a month, About once a month, 2 or 3 times a month, Once a week or more)
b. Done something dangerous because someone dared you to do it. (Response Options: Same as above)
c. Done what feels good no matter what. (Response Options: Same as above)
33. Have you ever belonged to a gang? (Response Options: Yes, No)
34. If you have ever belonged to a gang, did the gang have a name? (Response Options: Yes, No, I have never belonged to a gang)
35. How many times in the past year have you:
a. been suspended from school? (Response Options: Never, 1 or 2 Times, 3 to 5 Times, 6 to 9 Times, 10 to 19 Times, 20 to 29 Times, 30 to 39 Times, 40+ Times)
b. carried a handgun? (Response Options: Same as above)
c. sold illegal drugs? (Response Options: Same as above)
d. stolen or tried to steal a motor vehicle? (Response Options: Same as above)
e. been arrested? (Response Options: Same as above)
f. attacked someone? (Response Options: Same as above)
g. been drunk or high at school? (Response Options: Same as above)
h. taken a handgun to school? (Response Options: Same as above)
36. What are the chances you would be seen as cool if you:
a. smoked cigarettes? (Response Options: No or Very Little Chance, Little Chance, Some Chance, Pretty Good Chance, Very Good Chance)
b. began drinking alcohol regularly? (Response Options: Same as above)
c. smoked marijuana? (Response Options: Same as above)
d. carried a handgun? (Response Options: Same as above)
37. Scenarios with various response options (e.g., about stealing, parental permission, social interactions, etc.)

References

http://cart.rmcdenver.com/instruments/communities_that.pdf
Social Development Research Group
University of Washington 9725 3rd Ave. NE, Suite 401
Seattle, WA 98115-2024
Online at: http://staff.washington.edu/sdrg/