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The factor structure of a dichotomously scored Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index
Matthew P Martens1, Clayton Neighbors, Kristen Dams-O'Connor
1Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, ED220, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222, USA. mmartens@uamail.albany.edu
Objective:
Heavy college-student alcohol use and its resulting negative consequences represent a public-health problem on American college campuses. The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) is a commonly used measure of alcohol problems among college students, but the psychometric properties of this measure never have been comprehensively assessed with the college-student population. The purpose of this research was to conduct reliability and validity analyses, particularly exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, on a dichotomously scored version of the measure.
Method:
Data were collected on 4,686 undergraduate students at a large, public university in the Northwest region of the United States and 438 students at a large, public university in the Northeast.
Results:
Exploratory factor analysis suggested that a three-factor model provided the best fit to the data. This finding was replicated via confirmatory factor analyses in two separate samples. The three factors were labeled Abuse/Dependence Symptoms, Personal Consequences, and Social Consequences. Each individual factor demonstrated adequate internal consistency and convergent validity.
Conclusion:
The results of this study suggest that a dichotomously scored RAPI consists of three subfactors that are reliable and valid in identifying alcohol-related problems among college students.
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