0704-awbs_ssa_1.14.22

SUPPORTING STATEMENT - PART A

Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being –0704-XXXX

1. Need for the Information Collection

Military Community & Family Policy (MC&FP) of the Department of Defense (DoD) is requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance for the project entitled, “Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being.” MC&FP has partnered with the Millennium Cohort Program to assess the direct and indirect association of military experiences with adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment and physical health, academic achievement, and educational/military career aspirations to identify risk and protective factors that may promote or inhibit positive outcomes among military-connected adolescents and their families.

Adolescence is a sensitive period of development in many areas that are critical to healthy adult functioning. MC&FP's Office of Military Family Readiness Policy has generated a number of special initiatives to support the more than 380,000 adolescent children coping and thriving in the face of military life challenges. There is, however, limited research to assist with verifying the most important protective factors that may ensure the long-term well-being of adolescent-age youth in the military community. The overarching aim of this study is to assess the association of military-related stressors with adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment and physical health, academic achievement, and educational/career aspirations to identify modifiable risk and protective factors that may promote or inhibit well-being among military-connected adolescents and their families. With a source of quality data on the needs of military-connected youth and their families, DoD can more effectively address the critical issues facing military-connected youth and identify gaps associated with program utilization.

The Millennium Cohort Program is tasked with the mission of understanding the evolving impact of military operational stress on military members and their families as they serve our country. Specifically, this program must maintain a ready baseline and ongoing long-term follow-up for past and future population-based panels representing the U.S. military community to understand factors that impact their well-being over the life course. The generation of military youth born to Millennium Cohort Study participants beginning in 2001 are currently making career decisions, offering an important opportunity to integrate their experiences into this research program portfolio. With five panels of service members enrolled spanning 2001 to 2021, this study will not only assist MC&FP in outlining future strategic goals to address adolescent needs, but it will also assist the DoD in better understanding the needs of the next generation of potential service members. A study of adolescent children aligns with MC&FP’s strategic goal to evaluate the long-term well-being of youth in the military community and the Secretary of Defense’s mandate to incorporate the role of family life into organizational goals related to the operational readiness of the military force.

2. Use of the Information

This project, “Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being,” will collect information from participants enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study (MilCo), the largest DoD-funded longitudinal study of service members and veterans, which was initiated in 2001. MilCo participants with at least one adolescent child between the ages of 11 and 17 years old will be invited, along with their adolescent-age child and the child’s other parent/legal guardian, if applicable. Respondents will provide information, currently not available from other sources, to complete web-based surveys on topics including demographics, physical and psychological health, academics and career aspirations, use of military-sponsored programs and services, military and general life experiences, behavioral health, resilience factors, parent-adolescent relationship quality, and adolescents’ prosocial relationships.

The structure and content of the survey instrument is guided by the study objectives, comprising a mix of closed and open-ended questions (included in package). We expect the survey to take less than 30 minutes to complete. Participants will be recruited based on a modified Dillman method, including postcards targeted to adolescents and their parents; a mailed survey packet containing a study invitation letter, sample consent and assent forms, sample surveys, and contact information for the study team to answer any questions; study invitation emails; and reminders to complete the survey (included in package).

All data will be maintained by the study team at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) for research purposes. All disclosures must have prior approval of the NHRC Institutional Review Board (IRB) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) must be entered into to ensure the rights and obligations of the signatories are clear. Access to data 1) is provided on a need-to-know basis only; 2) must adhere to the rule of minimization in that only information necessary to accomplish the purpose for which the disclosure is being made is releasable; and 3) must follow strict guidelines established in the data sharing agreement.

The primary objective of this research project is to study the impact of military service on the adolescent children of service members and veterans enrolled in the MilCo Study. DoD policy makers and researchers will use findings from analyses of collected survey data to inform prevention and treatment strategies to improve the well-being of military-connected youth and their families.

3. Use of Information Technology

100 percent of the surveys will be collected electronically using an online survey format. Online surveys will be optimized for readability and usability, employing automatic skip patterns and smart features in which some text is auto-filled based on previously reported information from the participant. When applicable, electronic records will be used to supplement information related to demographics, health, and deployment dates by linking this information to self-reported survey data, thus reducing respondent burden.

4. Non-duplication

The information obtained through this collection is unique and is not already available for use or adaptation from another cleared source.

5. Burden on Small Businesses

This information collection does not impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses or entities.

6. Less Frequent Collection

The current study is planned to collect data at one-time point. If additional funding is received in the future to continue the study, the goal would be to collect data from participants up to 3 time points at 18-month data collection intervals. It is necessary to collect data from participants over time to measure change as well as to appropriately test causal hypotheses and behavioral trajectories. This is particularly important during adolescence given the vast developmental changes that occur during this period of time and the consequences of these changes for future adult outcomes.

7. Paperwork Reduction Act Guidelines

This collection of information does not require collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines delineated in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. Consultation and Public Comments

Part A: PUBLIC NOTICE

A 60-Day Federal Register Notice (FRN) for the collection published on Monday, October 25, 2021. The 60-Day FRN citation is 86 FR 58896 FRN 58896-58897

No comments were received during the 60-Day Comment Period.

A 30-Day Federal Register Notice for the collection published on Friday, January 14, 2022. The 30-Day FRN citation is 87 FR 2421 FRN 2421-2422.

Part B: CONSULTATION

No additional consultation apart from soliciting public comments through the Federal Register was conducted for this submission.

9. Gifts or Payment

Aligned with the Millennium Cohort Program, participants will receive incentives in the form of $10 gift cards to Amazon, Target, or Starbucks for each family member who completes the survey, with the opportunity to earn a $10 bonus gift card in families where all invited family members (e.g., both parents and the adolescent) participate in the study (General Counsel consult included).

10. Confidentiality

The Privacy Act, as defined under Title 5, US Code 136, DoD Regulations, Executive Order 9396, and in DoD RCS#DD-HA(AR)2106 will be presented before the first question of the online questionnaire. The surveys will also include the SORN ID number, OMB control number, expiration date, and the Public Burden Statement. This document specifies the Authority supporting the request for information, the purpose for its collection, the routine uses to which it will be put, the scope of anonymity in the use of personal identifiers and the voluntary nature of participation.

(SORN for MCP was published on the Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Division (DPCLD) website on November 14, 2014, and can be found here: http://dpcld.defense.gov/Privacy/SORNsIndex/DODComponentArticleView/tabid/7489/Article/570396/n06500-1.aspx

This project is in the process of requesting an updated SORN as a component of the Millennium Cohort Program.

The MCP has been evaluated and it was determined that a PIA is not required.

Electronic records and consent forms generated by the MCP are permanent and transferred to the nearest Federal Records Center (FRC) when 5 years old and then transferred to NARA when 20 years old. Temporary supporting records are transferred to the nearest FRC when 5 years old and destroyed when 10 years old. Temporary non-record files will be destroyed when 5 years old or upon completion or termination of the project.

11. Sensitive Questions

Adolescent report of sexual behaviors: Adolescents are asked questions about sexual intercourse. These are important questions that may indicate engagement in sexual risk behaviors, which has consequences for reproductive health, future sexual victimization, and psychological health issues such as depression, a key outcome of this study.

Adolescent report of religiosity: Adolescents are asked one item about frequency of religious attendance. Religiosity has shown to be a protective factor against engagement in risk behaviors and antisocial peer groups, both of which are associated with poorer health and academic outcomes among adolescents.

Parent and adolescent report of sexual and gender identity: Parents and adolescents are asked items to assess their sexual orientation and gender identity. These items are important to include because sexual and gender minorities are at increased risk for psychological health problems, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviors. Healthy People 2030 goals, which set health benchmarks for the U.S. population, include specific objectives to increase the number of national-level surveys that collect data on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations by including specific items on sexual and gender identity.

12. Respondent Burden and its Labor Costs

Part A: ESTIMATION OF RESPONDENT BURDEN

1. Collection Instrument(s)

Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being – Adolescent Survey

1. Number of Respondents: 3,200

2. Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1

3. Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,200

4. Response Time: 0.50

5. Respondent Burden Hours: 1,600 hours

2. Collection Instrument(s)

Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being – Parent Survey

1. Number of Respondents: 5,760

2. Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1

3. Number of Total Annual Responses: 5,760

4. Response Time: 0.50

5. Respondent Burden Hours: 2,880 hours

3. Total Submission Burden

   1. Total Number of Respondents: 8,960

   2. Total Number of Annual Responses: 8,960

   3. Total Respondent Burden Hours: 4,480 hours

Part B: LABOR COST OF RESPONDENT BURDEN

1. Collection Instrument(s)

Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being – Adolescent Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,200

2. Response Time: 0.50

3. Respondent Hourly Wage: $7.25

4. Labor Burden per Response: $3.625

5. Total Labor Burden: $11,600.00

2. Collection Instrument(s)

Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being – Parent Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 5,760

2. Response Time: 0.50

3. Respondent Hourly Wage: $25.72

4. Labor Burden per Response: $12.86

5. Total Labor Burden: $74,073.60

3. Overall Labor Burden

   1. Total Number of Annual Responses: 8,960

   2. Total Labor Burden: $ 85,673.60

The Respondent's hourly wage was determined by using the mean hourly wage across all occupations ($25.72) from Bureau of Labor Statistics Website (http://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes_nat.htm).

13. Respondent Costs Other Than Burden Hour Costs

There are no annualized costs to respondents other than the labor burden costs addressed in Section 12 of this document to complete this collection.

14. Cost to the Federal Government

Part A: LABOR COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1. Collection Instrument(s)

Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being – Adolescent Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,200

2. Processing Time per Response: 0.15 hours

3. Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Responses: $25.00

4. Cost to Process Each Response: $3.75

5. Total Cost to Process Responses: $12,000

2. Collection Instrument(s)

Military Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and Adolescent Health and Well-Being – Parent Survey

1. Number of Total Annual Responses: 5,760

2. Processing Time per Response: 0.15 hours

3. Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Responses: $25.00

4. Cost to Process Each Response: $3.75

5. Total Cost to Process Responses: $21,600

3. Overall Labor Burden to the Federal Government

   1. Total Number of Annual Responses: 8,960

   2. Total Labor Burden: $33,600

Part B: OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS

1. Cost Categories

   1. Equipment: $0

   2. Printing: $210,896

   3. Postage: $242,644

   4. Software Purchases: $0

   5. Licensing Costs: $0

   6. Other: $149,000

2. Total Operational and Maintenance Cost: $602,540

Part C: TOTAL COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1. Total Labor Cost to the Federal Government: $33,600

2. Total Operational and Maintenance Costs: $602,540

3. Total Cost to the Federal Government: $636,140

15. Reasons for Change in Burden

This is a new collection with a new associated burden.

16. Publication of Results

The results of this study will be published in the form of DoD publications and in peer-reviewed manuscripts external to DoD. The timeline for this project is the following:

2022-2023: Data collection

2023-2024: Data analysis

2024-2025: Publication of results

17. Non-Display of OMB Expiration Date

We are not seeking approval to omit the display of the expiration date of the OMB approval on the collection instrument.

18. Exceptions to “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Submissions”

We are not requesting any exemptions to the provisions stated in 5 CFR 1320.9.