Psychometric evaluation of the Drinking Patterns Questionnaire: a measure of high-risk drinking situations.
OBJECTIVE
The Drinking Patterns Questionnaire (DPQ) is a self-report instrument designed to identify high-risk (HR) drinking situations. While prior investigation has established the preliminary psychometric properties of the DPQ, additional research is needed. The current study evaluated the construct validity of the Work-Related, Financial, Parents, and Children subscales of the DPQ as well as the internal consistency of all subscales.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-four alcohol-dependent inpatients completed a questionnaire packet containing the DPQ, a demographics questionnaire, four measures used to evaluate the convergent validity of DPQ subscales, and three measures of alcohol use disorder symptoms.


RESULTS
DPQ subscales evidenced adequate to strong internal consistency (coefficient alphas of .691 to .921). Significant Pearson's r correlations were found between scores on the Work-Related, Financial, and Children subscales and those on their corresponding correlate measures. Findings for the validity of the Parents subscale were mixed.


CONCLUSIONS
Study results provide support for the construct validity for the Work-Related, Financial, and Children subscales and indicate that all DPQ subscales exhibit solid internal consistency.
Menges
David P
DP
Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. dmenges@eden.rutgers.edu
McCrady
Barbara S
BS
Epstein
Elizabeth E
EE
Beem
Charles
C
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires