背景:纵向研究可以产生有价值的科学知识,但可能会受到系统性减员的影响。以前的研究表明,社会人口统计学特征(例如,种族,年龄,教育水平,社会经济环境)与流失率相关。然而,人们对这些特征是否因种族而异知之甚少,以及这如何影响队列保留策略。
方法:使用来自新西兰出生队列研究(N=6743)的产前至12年数据,我们检查了按种族划分的横向反应率(毛利人,太平洋,亚洲人,European),使用序列分析和聚类分析来识别独特的纵向响应模式,和二元逻辑回归来检查与这些反应模式相关的种族特定的社会人口统计学特征。
结果:12年的总反应率为71.0%,在六个数据收集浪潮中,响应率的种族差异正在扩大。确定了三种纵向反应模式:频繁反应者(65.2%),间歇性无应答者(29.6%)和频繁无应答者(5.2%)。社会人口统计学特征,例如较年轻的产妇年龄和较低的产妇教育程度,与所有族裔群体中无反应集群成员的可能性更高有关。然而,种族也有重要的细微差别。个体水平因素(例如,家庭物质剥夺和产妇一般健康)往往与欧洲人的无反应有关,而结构层面的因素(例如,地区层面的剥夺和种族歧视)往往与毛利人的不反应有关,太平洋和亚洲人民。
结论:纵向反应模式的种族差异是由于多种不利因素造成的,因此需要有针对性的保留策略。按种族进行分层分析对于揭示细微差别的见解很重要。
BACKGROUND: Longitudinal studies can generate valuable scientific knowledge, but can be compromised by systematic attrition. Previous research shows that sociodemographic characteristics (eg, ethnicity, age, educational level, socioeconomic circumstances) are associated with attrition rates. However, little is known about whether these characteristics differ by ethnicity, and how this impacts cohort retention strategies.
METHODS: Using antenatal to 12-year data from the Growing Up in New Zealand birth cohort study (N=6743), we examined transversal response rates by ethnicity (Māori, Pacific, Asian, European), used sequence analysis and cluster analysis to identify unique longitudinal response patterns, and binary logistic regression to examine ethnic-specific sociodemographic characteristics associated with these response patterns.
RESULTS: The overall response rate at 12 years was 71.0%, with ethnic differences in response rates widening over the six data collection waves. Three longitudinal response patterns were identified: frequent responders (65.2%), intermittent non-responders (29.6%) and frequent non-responders (5.2%). Sociodemographic characteristics such as younger maternal age and lower maternal education were associated with a higher likelihood of membership in the non-response clusters across all ethnic groups. However, there were also important nuances by ethnicity. Individual level factors (eg, household material deprivation and maternal general health) tended to be associated with non-response for Europeans, whereas structural level factors (eg, area-level deprivation and racial discrimination) tended to be associated with non-response for Māori, Pacific and Asian peoples.
CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic differences in longitudinal response patterns are due to multiple factors of disadvantage, and therefore require targeted retention strategies. Stratifying analyses by ethnicity is important for revealing nuanced insights.