Predictors of non-response to a questionnaire survey of a volunteer twin panel: findings from the Australian 1989 twin cohort.

摘要: Questionnaire surveys, while more economical, typically achieve poorer response rates than interview surveys. We used data from a national volunteer cohort of young adult twins, who were scheduled for assessment by questionnaire in 1989 and 1996-2000, to identify predictors non-response. Out total 8536 5058 completed the survey (59% rate), 6255 telephone conducted decade later (73% rate). Multinomial logit models fitted socioeconomic, psychiatric health behavior correlates non-response earlier survey. Male gender, education below University level, being dizygotic rather monozygotic twin, all predicted reduced likelihood participating Associations between status history variables modest, with alcohol dependence childhood conduct disorder predicting decreased probability returning questionnaire, smoking heavy drinking weakly associated Body-mass index showed no association Despite poor rate self-report survey, we found only limited sampling biases most variables. While not appropriate studies where socioeconomic are critical, it appears that administration non-responders, will represent viable strategy gene-mapping requiring large numbers relatives be screened.