Psychometric properties of the Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire: a review of the factor structure and a proposed new scoring method.
OBJECTIVE
Expectancies about the outcomes of alcohol consumption are widely accepted as important determinants drinking. This construct is increasingly recognized as a significant element of psychological interventions for alcohol-related problems. Much effort has been invested in producing reliable and valid instruments to measure this construct for research and clinical purposes, but very few have had their factor structure subjected to adequate validation. Among them, the Drinking Expectancies Questionnaire (DEQ) was developed to address some theoretical and design issues with earlier expectancy scales. Exploratory factor analyses, in addition to validity and reliability analyses, were performed when the original was questionnaire was developed. The object of this study was to undertake a confirmatory analysis of the factor structure of the DEQ.


METHODS
Confirmatory factor analysis through LISREL 8 was performed using a randomly split sample 679 drinkers.


RESULTS
Results suggested that a new 5-factor model, which differs slightly from the original 6-factor version, was a more robust measure of expectancies. A new method of scoring the DEQ consistent with this factor structure is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study shows more robust psychometric properties of the DEQ using the new factor structure.
Lee
Nicole K
NK
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia 4067, Australia. Nicole.Lee@turningpoint.org.au
Oei
Tian P S
TP
Greeley
Janet D
JD
Baglioni
Anthony J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires