title: Development of a brief substance use sensation seeking scale: validation and prediction of injection-related behaviors.
abstract: Sensation seeking, a personality trait, has been shown to predict engagement in high-risk behaviors. However, little is known regarding the impact of sensation seeking on substance use among street youth. We therefore sought to modify a sensation seeking scale (SSS) for use among this population. Street youth from the Vancouver-based At-Risk Youth Study (n = 226) completed the modified SSS. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA/CFA) were undertaken to establish the scale's dimensionality and internal validity. The association between SSS score and injection-related behaviors was tested using generalized estimating equation analysis. EFA results indicated scale unidimensionality. The comparative fit index (CFI) suggested acceptable fit (CFI = 0.914). In multivariate analysis, sensation seeking was independently associated with injection drug use, crystal methamphetamine use, polysubstance use, and binge drug use (all p < 0.05). Our findings provide preliminary support for the use of the modified SSS among street youth.
authors.affiliation: Urban Health Research Initiative, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, University of British Columbia, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Werb
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buxton
authors.forename: Jeannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shoveller
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012677:Sensation; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008694:Methamphetamine