Measuring alcohol-related protective behavioral strategies among college students: further examination of the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale.
Heavy drinking among college students has been recognized as a public health problem on American college campuses (e.g., R. Hingson, T. Heeren, M. Winter, & H. Wechsler, 2005). Recently, protective behavioral strategies, or cognitive-behavioral strategies that can be implemented when using alcohol to reduce consumption and resulting negative consequences, have been shown to be associated with less alcohol use and fewer alcohol-related problems (e.g., S. L. Benton et al., 2004; M. P. Martens et al., 2005). The purpose of the present study was to conduct additional psychometric work on a measure designed to assess the use of such strategies: the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (PBSS; M. P. Martens et al., 2005). Data were collected on 505 undergraduate students from 2 universities who reported having consumed alcohol at least once in the past 30 days. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized 3-factor version of the PBSS, and scores on each subscale were correlated in the expected direction with both alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Thus, the PBSS appears to be reliable and valid for use among college student drinkers.
Martens
Matthew P
MP
Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA. mmartens@uamail.albany.edu
Pederson
Eric R
ER
Labrie
Joseph W
JW
Ferrier
Amanda G
AG
Cimini
M Dolores
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003416:Criminal Law; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*