The Western Australian child health survey: a pilot study.

A pilot survey of 200 households was undertaken to field test the survey instruments and trial the validation and calibration procedures for the Western Australian Child Health Survey (WACHS) conducted in 1992. This paper describes the background to the WACHS, the development of the instrumentation and the conduct of the pilot study. This survey aims to replicate and extend previous epidemiological surveys conducted in other countries, and to provide Australian norms for mental health morbidity in 4 to 16 year old children. The measurement of mental health was undertaken through the use of the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). This screening instrument provided data on the prevalence of mental health morbidity and of specific mental disorders in 4 to 16 year olds. Its reliability and validity as a diagnostic indicator were checked through a clinical calibration technique. The pilot survey also permitted an examination of the sampling strategy adopted to ensure that the sample selected reflected "normality" in terms of expected trends and results. Modifications to the content of the questionnaires are described in light of both psychometric qualities of the data and comments from field interviewers and professionals who have examined the instrument. Finally, changes to data collection strategies are discussed.

Leisure activities of adolescent school students: predictors of participation and interest.

Frequency of participation and levels of interest in more than 60 leisure pursuits were measured via a questionnaire administered to 1248 adolescent high school students. The relationship between participation and levels of interest was measured by correlation as well as by asking the students to nominate up to three activities they would like to participate in but cannot and to indicate the reason for their non-participation. Factor analyses reduced the Participation and Interest items to six factors each. Multiple regressions were then conducted on the derived factor-score variables. Sex was the major predictor of participation in sports and vocational activities and of interest in sporting and gregarious activities. Age, school location, ethnicity and SES were lesser predictors for groups of activities such as the social and outdoor pursuits. The results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and practical implications of the relationship between participation and interest as well as the prediction of participation and interest levels by developmental and social factors.

Participation and interest in leisure activities by adolescent schoolchildren.

Knowledge of the leisure activities and pursuits of adolescents is important as it can provide a greater understanding of the social world of the adolescent. Further, it is necessary not only to know what adolescents actually do in their leisure time, but what they are interested in doing. In this study, the relationship between levels of participation and levels of interest in leisure activities was investigated via analysis of a comprehensive 77 item questionnaire administered to 247 adolescents. Factor analytic techniques were used to summarize the data, enabling comparisons to be made between boys and girls. Adolescents were found to engage in and be interested in activities characterised by their sex stereotyped nature, although in general none of the popular pursuits was either physically or mentally demanding. There was a high correlation between participation and interest, with adolescents participating in activities that interested them. The implications of these findings are discussed.