title: Examining factors in the Research Institute on Addictions Self-Inventory (RIASI): Associations with alcohol use and problems at assessment and follow-up.
abstract: Impaired driving is a leading cause of alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Rehabilitation or remedial programs, involving assessment and screening of convicted impaired drivers to determine problem severity and appropriate programs, are an important component of society's response to this problem. Ontario's remedial program, Back on Track (BOT), involves an assessment process that includes administration of the Research Institute on Addictions Self-Inventory (RIASI) to determine assignment to an education or treatment program. The purpose of this study is to identify factors within the RIASI and examine how factor scores are associated with alcohol use and problem indicators at assessment and six-month follow-up. The sample included 22,298 individuals who completed BOT from 2000 to 2005. Principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation was conducted on RIASI data and an eight factor solution was retained: (1) Negative Affect, (2) Sensation Seeking, (3) Alcohol-Quantity, (4) Social Conformity, (5) High Risk Lifestyle, (6) Alcohol Problems, (7) Interpersonal Competence, and (8) Family History. Regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between factors and alcohol and problem measures obtained at assessment and at follow-up. Most factors, except for Interpersonal Competence, were associated with more alcohol use and problems at assessment. A similar pattern was observed at 6-month follow-up, but interestingly some factors (Negative Affect, Sensation Seeking, Alcohol-Quantity and Family History) predicted fewer days of alcohol use. The Interpersonal Competence factor was associated with significantly lower levels of alcohol use and problems at both assessment and follow-up. This work suggests that the RIASI provides information on several domains that have important relationships with alcohol problem severity and outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada. robert_mann@camh.net
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoduto
authors.forename: Rosely Flam
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Zalcman
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Nochajski
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dill
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wells-Parker
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010556:Personality Tests; D016730:Program Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking