title: Risky, Impulsive, and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire (RISQ): A Validation Study.
abstract: Risky behaviors increase the likelihood of premature death, long-term disability, and poor mental health outcomes. Most current measures of risky behavior only assess behaviors within a single domain, fail to evaluate affective triggers for engaging in these behaviors, do not index the consequences of these behaviors, and are often limited to a narrow developmental period. The present study developed and evaluated a new 38-item questionnaire-based measure, the Risky, Impulsive, and Self-Destructive Behavior Questionnaire (RISQ), designed to address each of these limitations by expanding the breadth and depth of previous questionnaires. A bifactor model with a general factor and eight domain-specific factors (measuring drug use, aggression, self-harm, gambling, risky sexual behavior, impulsive eating, heavy alcohol use, and reckless behavior) best fit the RISQ, and indicators of internal consistency, as well as, construct validity were strong. Results provide initial validation for the RISQ as a broad, yet relatively brief, measure that quantifies and qualifies risky behaviors by assessing the severity, chronicity, and triggers for a range of harmful behaviors.
authors.affiliation: 1 National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.|2 Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sadeh
authors.affiliation: 3 Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Arielle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baskin-Sommers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000067290:Behavior Rating Scale / Q000592:standards*; D003237:Connecticut; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D014728:Veterans; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: aggression; gambling; illegal behavior; impulsive eating; reckless driving; risky sex; self-harm; substance use