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An adolescent version of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test
Mark Snow1, Steven Thurber, Joele M Hodgson
1Department of Psychology, Boise State University, USA.
Adolescence
|February 5, 2003
Summary
Researchers adapted the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) for adolescents. While initial consistency was lower, removing five items improved reliability, though the test remained factorially complex.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Health
- Substance Abuse Research
Background:
- The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) is a widely used tool for assessing alcohol use disorders.
- Existing screening tools may not be optimally suited for adolescent populations.
- Adaptation of validated instruments is crucial for accurate youth assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To modify the MAST for adolescent use.
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of the revised adolescent MAST.
- To identify areas for further refinement of the screening tool.
Main Methods:
- Item content of the MAST was adapted for young persons.
- Internal consistency and psychometric properties of the revised items were analyzed.
- Factor analysis was employed to assess the underlying structure of the adolescent MAST.
Main Results:
- The revised adolescent MAST showed lower internal consistency initially compared to the adult MAST.
- Eliminating five specific items improved the alpha coefficient to an acceptable .73.
- A unitary factor model was not supported; the test demonstrated factorial complexity.
Conclusions:
- The adapted MAST shows potential for adolescent screening after item revision.
- Further modifications are recommended to enhance the factorial structure and validity.
- The study highlights the need for tailored instruments in adolescent substance abuse assessment.