title: Development and validation of the Alcohol Identity Implicit Associations Test (AI-IAT).
abstract: Alcohol identity is the extent to which an individual perceives drinking alcohol to be a defining characteristic of his or her self-identity. Although alcohol identity might play an important role in risky college drinking practices, there is currently no easily administered, implicit measure of this concept. Therefore we developed a computerized implicit measure of alcohol identity (the Alcohol Identity Implicit Associations Test; AI-IAT) and assessed its reliability and predictive validity in relation to risky college drinking practices. One hundred forty-one college students completed the AI-IAT. Again 3- and 6-months later, we administered the AI-IAT and indices of engagement in risky college drinking practices. A subset of participants also completed the previously-validated implicit measure of alcohol identity. Scores on the AI-IAT were stable over time, internally consistent, and positively correlated with the previously-validated measure of alcohol identity. Baseline AI-IAT scores predicted future engagement in risky college drinking practices, even after controlling for standard alcohol consumption measures. We conclude that the AI-IAT reliably measures alcohol identity, a concept that appears to play an important role in risky college drinking practices.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division on Addictions, United States. hgray@challiance.org
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Debi A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Laplante
authors.forename: Brittany L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bannon
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ambady
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shaffer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult