Reliability and validity of a brief measure of sensation seeking

We developed a self-report measure of sensation seeking, a dispositional risk factor for various problem behaviors. In two Studies, we administered the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) to more than 7000 adolescents, Study 1 participants completed a paper-and-pencil form of the BSSS in mass-testing sessions. Psychometric analyses of the resultant data revealed suitable item characteristics and internal consistency of responses to the items across age (13-17 years), sex, and ethnic categories. Study 2 participants, who completed the BSSS individually in an interview format, also provided data on their perceptions of and experiences with licit and illicit drugs as well as a series of additional risk and protective factors. Scores on the full BSSS correlated inversely with negative attitudes toward drug use and positively with drug use; sensation seeking as measured by the BSSS was a particularly strong predictor of the intention to try marijuana in the future. BSSS scores were reliably and predictably associated with other risk and protective factors. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.