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Table 1 Derivation of MRB variables in both cohorts

From: Is adolescent multiple risk behaviour associated with reduced socioeconomic status in young adulthood and do those with low socioeconomic backgrounds experience greater negative impact? Findings from two UK birth cohort studies

Health risk behaviour

How variable was derived in BCS70

How variable was derived in ALSPAC

Physical inactivity

Young person (YP) has typically over the past year done sport in or out of school less than once a week (from an extensive list of sports). If young person said they took exercise last Saturday, they were included in the non-risk behaviour group.

Young person (YP) has typically over the past year exercised < 5 times per week.

TV viewing

YP spent 3 or more hours watching television on average per day across the week.

Car passenger risk

Young person has drunk and driven once or more AND/OR young person wears a seatbelt never, a few times or most times.

YP had been in a car passenger at least once in their lifetime where the driver (a) had consumed alcohol or (b) did not have a valid licence or (c) the YP chose not to wear a seat belt last time travelled in a car, van or taxi.

Cycle helmet use

 

If the YP reported that they had last ridden a bicycle within the previous four weeks and they had not worn a helmet on the most recent occasion.

Scooter risk

 

YP has driven a motorbike/ scooter off road or without a licence on a public road at least once.

Criminal/Antisocial behaviour

Young person reported that since the age of 10 at least one of the following offenses: Been questioned by police; let off with a warning; been arrested; formally cautioned; found guilty in court OR in the past year reported at least one of the following offenses: broken a window/smashed others property; stolen item from a shop; used physical force to get money; broken into a house to steal something; stolen a bike; broke into a cash dispenser; swore at a teacher; driven a car on the road underage; sold something shop lifted.

YP reported that at least once in the past year they had undertaken at least one of the following 7 offences:-carried a weapon; physically hurt someone on purpose; stolen something; sold illicit substances to another person; damaged property belonging to someone else either by using graffiti, setting fire to it or destroying or damaging it in another fashion; subjected someone to verbal or physical racial abuse; or been rude/rowdy in a public place.

Hazardous alcohol consumption

Young person has had four drinks or more in a row in the past two weeks AND has been really drunk in the last year.

In the past year had scored 8 or more out of 40 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) indicating hazardous alcohol consumption.

10 questions based on drinking behaviour, scoring points for never (0 points), less than monthly (1 point), monthly (2 points), weekly (3 points) and daily/almost daily (4 points).

Regular tobacco smoking

Young person indicates smoking at least one cigarette per week.

Has ever smoked and is regularly smoking by currently smoking at least one cigarette per week.

Cannabis use

Young person reports having smoked cannabis 10+ times in the past year.

Those who reported using cannabis “sometimes but less often than once a week” or more regular use were classified as occasional users.

Illicit drug/solvent use

Young person has used any of the following drugs two or more times in the past year: cocaine; solvents; LSD; downers; uppers; heroin.

In the year since their 15th birthday, YP had either been a regular user (i.e. used five or more times) of one or more illicit drugs (excluding cannabis) including amphetamines, ecstasy, LSD, cocaine, ketamine or inhalants including aerosols, gas, solvents and poppers.

Self-harm

Young people who said they had purposely hurt themselves in some way in their lifetime.

Penetrative sex before age 16

YP reported having had penetrative sex in the preceding year and that they were under 16 at the time.

Unprotected sex

Young person reports method of contraception is “none”, “boy withdraws”, “use safe period” or “trust to luck”.

Penetrative sex without the use of contraception on the last occasion they had had sex in the past year