The structure of drinking motives in First Nations adolescents in Nova Scotia.
OBJECTIVE
The factor structure of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire - Revised (DMQ-R; Cooper, 1994) was examined in a sample of First Nations (i.e., Mi'kmaq) adolescents.


RESULTS
Exploratory principal components analysis indicated a three-factor structure (conformity, coping, and positive reinforcement motives), with the positive reinforcement motives of enhancement and social motives not separating into the expected two distinct factors. Moreover, community informants (e.g., school personnel) anecdotally indicated possible wording problems with some of the social motive items for the cultural group. A qualitative methodology - focus group interviews with Mi'kmaq adolescents - was used to explore potential reasons for these observed differences in the structure of drinking motives from previous findings in the majority culture (i.e., a measurement problem vs. a real difference in the structure of drinking motives in the Mi'kmaq culture).


CONCLUSIONS
Qualitative findings support the interpretation that a true social motive for alcohol use does not exist in this cultural/age group and that drinking in social contexts for this group seems less motivated by social affiliation than by enhancement motives (e.g., drinking to party).
Mushquash
Christopher J
CJ
Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Life Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4J1, Canada. chris.mushquash@dal.ca
Stewart
Sherry H
SH
Comeau
M Nancy
MN
McGrath
Patrick J
PJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012925:Social Conformity; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires