A Multilevel Model of Longitudinal Non-response: Implications for Studies of College Student Substance Use Open Access

McDonald, Bennett (2016)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/1r66j160d?locale=en
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Abstract

Background: Methodologically, unit non-response in longitudinal studies poses challenges in obtaining unbiased measures of prevalence and association. Differential non-response due to measured respondent characteristics should be explored to best correct for this bias in analysis of further waves.

Methods: We examined individual and institutional level predictors of unit non-response between waves 1 and 2 of a multi-wave longitudinal study of student tobacco and substance use using multilevel modeling. The sample constituted 3,418 college students aged 18-25 from 7 Georgia colleges/universities.

Results: 450 (12.9%) participants were lost to follow up at wave 2. Multilevel model results indicated the odds of non-response at wave 2 were higher for males, Blacks, those living off campus, those with lower academic motivation, and those who used tobacco within the past 30 days. At the institutional level, the odds of non-response were higher for those attending private colleges/universities and those attending schools with student populations fewer than 10,000.

Discussion: Future longitudinal studies should assess predictors of non-response between waves to allow for correction of selection bias due to differential non-response. Techniques, such as the use of propensity scores, can then be used to correct for selection bias.

Table of Contents

Introduction....................................................................................................................1

Methods.........................................................................................................................4

Results...........................................................................................................................8

Discussion.....................................................................................................................11

References.....................................................................................................................15

Tables……………………....................................................................................................19

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