At A Glance

Noteworthy Characteristics

  • A new dataset, GeoFLASHE, was released in Fall 2018: GeoFLASHE data are neighborhood characteristics calculated for use with FLASHE survey data. These data are available for data users to merge with FLASHE survey data to conduct analyses examining neighborhood characteristics and behavior.
  • The FLASHE survey collected data on psychosocial, generational (parent-adolescent) and environmental correlates of cancer-preventive behaviors. It included questions on cancer-preventive health behaviors such as diet, physical activity, sleep, sun safety, and tobacco use.

Website

https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/hbrb/flashe.html

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to help researchers understand lifestyle behaviors that relate to cancer risk. The majority of the survey questions focus on diet and physical activity, with additional survey items about sleep, sun safety and tobacco use.

Target Population

Parents/Caregivers and their adolescent children (aged 12–17 years)

Conducted

Researchers collected data from dyads of parent/caregivers and their adolescent children (ages 12–17) between April–October 2014.

Sponsor

The FLASHE Study was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under contract number HHSN261201200039I issued to Westat, Inc. This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from NCI, NIH. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the DHHS, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

Sampling

Sample Design

FLASHE is a cross-sectional, internet-based study that was conducted between April and October 2014. A parent/caregiver and his/her adolescent child (ages 12-17) were enrolled and then randomly selected to a Survey-Only group (e.g. group received the web-based survey instruments only) or a Motion Study group (e.g. received the same web-based surveys plus an accelerometer worn by the adolescent).

Sample Size

The starting sample invited to participate in FLASHE was 5,027 dyads; 1,945 dyads enrolled in FLASHE.

Key Variables

Demographic

NameMethods of Assessment
Race/ethnicityOnline questionnaire
SexOnline questionnaire
Education LevelOnline questionnaire
AgeOnline questionnaire

Diet-Related

NameMethods of Assessment
Teen and Adult Diet InstrumentOnline questionnaire
Psychosocial measures of fruit and vegetable consumptionOnline questionnaire
Perceptions of food advertisingOnline questionnaire
Food consumed away from homeOnline questionnaire
Neighborhood food accessOnline questionnaire
Taste preferencesOnline questionnaire
Parenting styles and practices for eating and drinkingOnline questionnaire

Physical Activity-Related

NameMethods of Assessment
Psychosocial Measures of physical activity, sedentary behaviors and screenOnline questionnaire
Home availability of physical activity equipmentOnline questionnaire
Neighborhood availability of spaces and places for exercise, traffic, crimeOnline questionnaire
Use of electronic devicesOnline questionnaire
Parenting styles and practices for screen time and physical activityOnline questionnaire
Physical activity in school, out of school and on weekends (Youth Activity Profile)Online questionnaire

Sleep-Related

NameMethods of Assessment
Daytime fatigue/sleepiness and/or alertnessQuestionnaire
Physical sleep environment: Screen use and proximityQuestionnaire
Schedule-related sleep environment: Adolescent work schedule/ school scheduleQuestionnaire
Sleep disturbances and quality: Trouble falling back asleep at nightQuestionnaire
Sleep duration and quantity: Total sleep time during weekends/holidaysCan calculate
Sleep duration and quantity: Total sleep time during workdays/schooldaysCan calculate
Sleep timing and regularity: Regularity of bedtimeQuestionnaire
Sleep timing and regularity: Regularity of wake time (may be unreliable in measured as a single itemQuestionnaire
Sleep timing and regularity: Sleep timing on weekends/holidaysQuestionnaire
Sleep timing and regularity: Sleep timing on weekends/holidaysQuestionnaire
Sleep timing and regularity: Time to bedQuestionnaire
Sleep timing and regularity: Time woke upQuestionnaire
Sleep-related policies: Year-round schoolQuestionnaire

Weight-Related

NameMethods of Assessment
HeightOnline questionnaire
WeightOnline questionnaire

Geocode/Linkage

NameMethods of Assessment
Neighborhood indicators for home and school locations, including (examples): urbanicity, socioeconomic status, variables associated with walkability, and ultraviolet radiationN/A

Data Access and Cost

Data Availability

Data can be accessed here: https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/hbrb/flashe-files.aspx

Cost

All public-use data are available free of charge.

Geocode/Linkage

Geocode Variable(s)

Home / school neighborhood demographic variables (race/ethnicity, population density, urban/rural)

Home / school neighborhood socio-economic variables (including the Yost socioeconomic status index)

Home / school neighborhood built environment variables (including neighborhood characteristics associated with walkability)

Home / school neighborhood ultraviolet radiation exposure

Existing Linkages

No

Selected Publications

Diet-Related

Ferrer, R.A., Green, P.A., Oh, A.Y., Hennessy, E., Dwyer, L.A. (2017). Emotion suppression, emotional eating, and eating behavior among parent-adolescent dyads. Emotion, 17(7):1052-1065. doi: 10.1037/emo0000295.

Thai, C.L., Serrano, K.J., Yaroch, A.L., Nebeling, L., Oh, A. (2017). Perceptions of food advertising and association with consumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods among adolescents in the united states: results from a national survey. J Health Commun, 22(8):638-646. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2017.1339145.

Physical Activity-Related

Dwyer, L.A., Patel, M., Nebeling, L.C., Oh, A.Y.(2018). Independent associations and interactions of perceived neighborhood and psychosocial constructs on adults' physical activity. J Phys Act Health, 23:1-8. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2017-0202.

Methods

D'Angelo, H., Fowler, S.L., Nebeling, L.C., Oh, A.Y. (2017). Adolescent physical activity: Moderation of individual factors by neighborhood environment. Am J Prev Med, 52(6), 888-894.

Dwyer, L.A., Bolger, N., Laurenceau, J.P., Patrick, H., Oh, A.Y., Nebeling, L.C., Hennessy, E. (2017). Autonomous motivation and fruit/vegetable intake in parent-adolescent dyads. Am J Prev Med, 52(6), 863-871.

Kim, Y., Hibbing, P., Saint-Maurice, P.F., Ellingson, L.D., Hennessy, E., Wolff-Hughes, D.L., …Welk, G.J. (2017). Surveillance of youth physical activity and sedentary behavior with wrist accelerometry. Am J Prev Med, 52(6), 872-879.

Nebeling, L.C., Hennessy, E., Oh, A.Y., Dwyer, L.A., Patrick, H., Blanck, H.M., …Yaroch, A.L. (2017). The FLASHE study: Survey development, dyadic perspectives, and participant characteristics. Am J Prev Med, 52(6):839-848.

Oh, A.Y., Davis, T., Dwyer, L.A., Hennessy, E., Li, T., Yaroch, A.L., Nebeling, L.C. (2017). Recruitment, enrollment, and response of parent-adolescent dyads in the FLASHE study. Am J Prev Med, 52(6), 849-855.

Saint-Maurice, P.F., Kim, Y., Hibbing, P., Oh, A.Y., Perna, F.M., Welk, G.J. (2017). Calibration and validation of the Youth Activity Profile: The FLASHE study Am J Prev Med, 52(6), 880-887.

Smith, T.M., Calloway, E.E., Pinard, C.A., Hennessy, E., Oh, A.Y., Nebeline, L.C., Yaroch, A.L. (2017). Using secondary 24-hour dietary recall data to estimate daily dietary factor intake from the FLASHE study dietary screener. Am J Prev Med, 52(6), 856-862.

Resources

Survey instruments are available at: https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/hbrb/flashe.html

Datasets and data user resources can be accessed at: https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/hbrb/flashe-files.aspx