Factor, Concurrent and Predictive Validity of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire [Treatment Version] Among Non-Treatment-Seeking Individuals.

AIMS: This study assessed the factor, concurrent and predictive validity of the revised Readiness to Change Questionnaire [Treatment Version] (RCQ[TV]) among non-treatment-seeking individuals. METHODS: Non-treatment-seeking patients (Mage = 34.8, SD = 12.4) who screened positive for alcohol misuse were recruited from three urban Level I Trauma Centers and completed the RCQ[TV] (Heather et al. [(1999) Development of a treatment version of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire. Addict Res7, 63-83]). RESULTS: A confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the RCQ[TV]. Observed scores for precontemplation, contemplation and action demonstrated concurrent validity, as they were correlated with drinking and alcohol-related problems prior to baseline assessment. Finally, RCQ[TV] scores at baseline added to the predictability of an alcohol consumption composite score at a 3-month follow-up after controlling for baseline alcohol consumption and randomization to treatment arm. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that the RCQ[TV] has desirable psychometric properties and supports the use of the RCQ[TV] among non-treatment-seeking patients with alcohol misuse.

A psychometric evaluation of the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20 among internet samples of adult drinkers.

Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are most commonly defined as behaviors that are used while drinking to reduce alcohol use and/or limit alcohol-related problems. Few studies have examined and quantified PBS use among non-college student populations. The purpose of the present two studies was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20 (PBSS-20; Treloar, Martens, & McCarthy, 2015) among internet samples of adult drinkers. In the first study, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis of the PBSS-20 with a sample (n = 360) of adult drinkers who were recruited from Mechanical Turk. We then conducted a second study that recruited adult drinkers from Mechanical Turk and randomly split the data in half. With the first split-half sample (n = 339), we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the PBSS-20 and assessed the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the subscales. With the second split-half sample (n = 338), we tested measurement invariance across gender. The results support a three-factor structure of the PBSS-20 that is similar to what has been found among college students. However, six items were dropped and two Serious Harm Reduction items loaded best onto the Manner of Drinking factor. Furthermore, two subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistency and all three subscale were negatively associated with alcohol-related outcomes. Similar to college students, there was lack of measurement invariance across gender. We discuss the implications of the present findings in extending research on PBS to the more general population of U.S. adult drinkers.