Factors associated with the problem-engendering use of substances by young men

The responses of 786 young men (mean [+/- SD] age = 18.66 +/- 1.60)-294 substance abusers, 422 putative normals and 70 nonsubstance-abusing psychiatric outpatients--to the 36 items that comprise the Substance Abuse Proclivity (SAP) Scale were intercorrelated and the resulting 36 x 36 item intercorrelation matrix was factor analyzed by the method of principal factors. Three factors were extracted and rotated to oblique simple structure. These factors, each of which was well defined and readily interpretable, were labeled Extroversion, Rebelliousness and Self-Pity.