Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism
Abstract Background Reporting retention data is critical to determining the soundness of a study's conclusions (internal validity) and broader generalizability (external validity). Although selective attrition can lead to overestimates of effects, biased conclusions, or overly expansive general...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-03-01
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| Series: | JCPP Advances |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12140 |
| _version_ | 1811155004468232192 |
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| author | Sally Ozonoff Monique M. Hill Alesha Hill Kevin Ashley Gregory S. Young |
| author_facet | Sally Ozonoff Monique M. Hill Alesha Hill Kevin Ashley Gregory S. Young |
| author_sort | Sally Ozonoff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Reporting retention data is critical to determining the soundness of a study's conclusions (internal validity) and broader generalizability (external validity). Although selective attrition can lead to overestimates of effects, biased conclusions, or overly expansive generalizations, retention rates are not reported in many longitudinal studies. Methods We examined multiple child‐ and family‐level factors potentially associated with retention in a longitudinal study of younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 304) or typical development (n = 163). The sample was followed from the first year of life to 36 months of age, for up to 7 visits. Results Of the 467 infant siblings who were consented and participated in at least one research visit, 397 (85.0%) were retained to study completion at 36 months. Retention rates did not differ by familial risk group (ASD‐risk vs. Low‐risk), sex, race, ethnicity, age at enrollment, number of children in the family, maternal employment, marital status, or parent concerns about the child at enrollment. A stepwise regression model identified 4 variables that, together, provided the most parsimonious predictive model of study retention: maternal education, maternal age at child's birth, travel distance to the study site, and diagnostic outcome classification at the final study visit. Conclusions The retained and not‐retained groups did not differ on most demographic and clinical variables, suggesting few threats to internal and external validity. The significantly higher rate of retention of children diagnosed with ASD (95%) than typically developing children (83%) may, however, present biases when studying recurrence risk. We conclude by describing engagement and tracking methods that can be used to maximize retention in longitudinal studies of children at risk of ASD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:26:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbbfa8deb977491ab5e35787c8488e3a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2692-9384 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:26:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JCPP Advances |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbbfa8deb977491ab5e35787c8488e3a2023-03-10T13:41:27ZengWileyJCPP Advances2692-93842023-03-0131n/an/a10.1002/jcv2.12140Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autismSally Ozonoff0Monique M. Hill1Alesha Hill2Kevin Ashley3Gregory S. Young4Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California Davis Sacramento California USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California Davis Sacramento California USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California Davis Sacramento California USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California Davis Sacramento California USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California Davis Sacramento California USAAbstract Background Reporting retention data is critical to determining the soundness of a study's conclusions (internal validity) and broader generalizability (external validity). Although selective attrition can lead to overestimates of effects, biased conclusions, or overly expansive generalizations, retention rates are not reported in many longitudinal studies. Methods We examined multiple child‐ and family‐level factors potentially associated with retention in a longitudinal study of younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 304) or typical development (n = 163). The sample was followed from the first year of life to 36 months of age, for up to 7 visits. Results Of the 467 infant siblings who were consented and participated in at least one research visit, 397 (85.0%) were retained to study completion at 36 months. Retention rates did not differ by familial risk group (ASD‐risk vs. Low‐risk), sex, race, ethnicity, age at enrollment, number of children in the family, maternal employment, marital status, or parent concerns about the child at enrollment. A stepwise regression model identified 4 variables that, together, provided the most parsimonious predictive model of study retention: maternal education, maternal age at child's birth, travel distance to the study site, and diagnostic outcome classification at the final study visit. Conclusions The retained and not‐retained groups did not differ on most demographic and clinical variables, suggesting few threats to internal and external validity. The significantly higher rate of retention of children diagnosed with ASD (95%) than typically developing children (83%) may, however, present biases when studying recurrence risk. We conclude by describing engagement and tracking methods that can be used to maximize retention in longitudinal studies of children at risk of ASD.https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12140attritionautismexternal validityinternal validitylongitudinal studyretention |
| spellingShingle | Sally Ozonoff Monique M. Hill Alesha Hill Kevin Ashley Gregory S. Young Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism JCPP Advances attrition autism external validity internal validity longitudinal study retention |
| title | Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism |
| title_full | Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism |
| title_fullStr | Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism |
| title_short | Factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism |
| title_sort | factors related to retention in a longitudinal study of infants at familial risk for autism |
| topic | attrition autism external validity internal validity longitudinal study retention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12140 |
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