Cross-cultural invalidity of alcohol dependence measurement across Hispanics and Caucasians in 2001 and 2002.
OBJECTIVE
Do assessments of alcohol dependence demonstrate similarly validity across Hispanics and non-Hispanic Caucasians? This investigation examined this question.


METHODS
It employed confirmatory factor analyses for ordered-categorical measures to search for measurement bias on the AUDADIS, a standardized measure of alcohol dependence, across Hispanic (n=4819) and non-Hispanic Caucasians (n=16, 109) in a nationally representative survey of alcohol use in the United States conducted in 2001 and 2002.


METHODS
Analyses considered whether 27 items operationalizing the DSM-IV alcohol dependence construct provided equivalent measurement.


CONCLUSIONS
Nine items revealed statistically significant bias, suggesting strong caution regarding the cross-ethnic validity of alcohol dependence. Sensitivity analyses established that item level differences erroneously impact alcohol dependence estimates among the 2001-2002 US Hispanic population. Biased measurement underestimates differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Caucasians, underestimates Hispanics' true use levels, and falsely minimizes current increases in drinking behavior evidenced among Hispanics. Findings urge improved public health efforts among the Hispanic community and underscore the necessity for cultural sensitivity when generalizing measures and constructs developed in the majority to Hispanic individuals.
Carle
Adam C
AC
University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224, United States. adam.carle@unf.edu
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology*; D015982:Bias; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Am Psychol. 1999 Dec;54(12):1070-7
15332528
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2003 Jul 20;71(1):7-16
12821201
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1999 Jan;23(1):144-50
10029216
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007 Jan 12;86(2-3):154-66
16814489
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2000 Nov 1;60(3):287-93
11053763
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;61(9):891-6
15351767
Drug Alcohol Depend. 1997 Sep 25;47(3):171-85
9306043
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994 Jan;51(1):8-19
8279933
J Subst Abuse. 1995;7(3):331-44
8749792
Health Serv Res. 2005 Oct;40(5 Pt 2):1640-57
16179000
Med Care. 2006 Nov;44(11 Suppl 3):S205-10
17060829
JAMA. 2002 Jul 3;288(1):82-90
12090866
JAMA. 2000 May 17;283(19):2579-84
10815125
Psychol Methods. 2000 Mar;5(1):125-46
10937326
Drug Alcohol Depend. 1997 Sep 25;47(3):217-26
9306047
Med Care. 2006 Nov;44(11 Suppl 3):S3-4
17060831
Am J Community Psychol. 2000 Apr;28(2):225-44
10836092
Addiction. 1994 May;89(5):573-9
8044123
N Engl J Med. 2004 Apr 8;350(15):1568-70
15071133
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008 Jan 1;92(1-3):27-36
17706375
Addiction. 1993 Aug;88(8):1071-7
8401161
Drug Alcohol Depend. 1995 Jul;39(1):37-44
7587973
N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 20;348(12):1170-5
12646676
Med Care. 2003 Nov;41(11):1207-20
14583684
Addiction. 1995 May;90(5):637-45
7795500
J Stud Alcohol. 2001 May;62(3):306-12
11414340
Med Care. 2006 Nov;44(11 Suppl 3):S1-2
17060815
J Subst Abuse. 1997;9:89-102
9494941
J Subst Abuse. 1998;10(4):321-39
10897287
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2004 Jun 11;74(3):223-34
15194200
N Engl J Med. 2004 Apr 8;350(15):1486-8
15071122
Multivariate Behav Res. 1985 Oct 1;20(4):389-417
26821990
Alcohol Health Res World. 1994;18(3):243-248
31798130
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 Jul;64(7):830-42
17606817
Med Care. 2006 Nov;44(11 Suppl 3):S69-77
17060838
Drug Alcohol Depend. 1997 Mar 14;44(2-3):133-41
9088785
Multivariate Behav Res. 1997 Jan 1;32(1):39-51
26751105