Adolescent Risk Behavior Screen (ARBS)
Background
The Adolescent Risk Behavior Screen (ARBS) is a brief 9-item clinical screening tool to identify teenagers who are engaging in multiple, co-occurring high-risk health behaviors. It has high sensitivity in identifying at risk male and female adolescents. The ARBS was introduced by M. Kay Jankowski and colleagues in 2007 as a self-report screening survey that could be quickly administered in venues such as pediatric clinics, school guidance offices, community mental health centers, and other social service agencies.
Task Procedure
Participants are asked to answer 9 health-related risk-behavior questions with a varying number of response options (2,4 or 5). The questions cover health-risk behaviors across a variety of areas (e.g. physical safety, drinking and drug use, eating behaviors etc.).
What it Measures
The Adolescent Risk Behavior Screen (ARBS) is a screening tool for high-risk health behaviors in adolescents
Psychological domains
- Risk-taking: Seeking out risky behaviors that could endanger one's health
- Drug/Alcohol/Nicotine Consumption: Seeking out alcohol and/or nicotine or other drugs such as cannabis
- Depression: Feeling sad or hopeless over an extended period of time
- Maladaptive Eating: Problematic eating behaviors such as excessive fasting
Main Performance Metrics
- Total Score: Sum of all response scores; higher scores point to higher risk-related health behaviors
Psychiatric Conditions
The ARBS is a general screening tool employed by health providers and counselors treating and caring for adolescents.
The adolescent risk behavior screen developed by Jankowsk et al (2007).
References
Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Adolescent Risk Behavior Screen (ARBS).
Jankowski, MK, Rosenberg, HJ, Sengupta, A, Rosenberg, SD, & Wolford, GL (2007). Development of a Screening Tool to Identify Adolescents Engaged in Multiple Problem Behaviors: The Adolescent Risk Behavior Screen (ARBS). Journal of Adolescent Health, 40, 180.e19 –180.e26.
Kirsty, H., & Andrew, M. D. (January 01, 2013). Sense of coherence as a predictor of risky health behaviours amongst teenage girls on a targeted youth development programme. Journal of Public Mental Health, 12, 3, 146-152.