The Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire: Evidence for Construct Validity

Kimberly A Fleming; Bruce D Bartholow; Joseph Hilgard; Denis M McCarthy; Susan E O'Neill; Douglas Steinley; Kenneth J Sher

doi:10.1111/acer.13015

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The Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire: Evidence for Construct Validity

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire: Evidence for Construct Validity

Kimberly A Fleming, Bruce D Bartholow, Joseph Hilgard, Denis M McCarthy, Susan E O'Neill, Douglas Steinley and Kenneth J Sher

Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, Vol.40(4), pp.880-888

04/2016

DOI: 10.1111/acer.13015

PMCID: PMC4820365

PMID: 27012527

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/4820365View

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Abstract

Variability in sensitivity to the acute effects of alcohol is an important risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The most commonly used retrospective self-report measure of sensitivity, the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) form, queries a limited number of alcohol effects and relies on respondents' ability to recall experiences that might have occurred in the distant past. Here, we investigated the construct validity of an alternative measure that queries a larger number of alcohol effects, the Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASQ), and compared it to the SRE in predicting momentary subjective responses to an acute dose of alcohol. Healthy young adults (N = 423) completed the SRE and the ASQ and then were randomly assigned to consume either alcohol or a placebo beverage (between-subjects manipulation). Stimulation and sedation (Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale) and subjective intoxication were measured multiple times after drinking. Hierarchical linear models showed that the ASQ reliably predicted each of these outcomes following alcohol but not placebo consumption, provided unique prediction beyond that associated with differences in recent alcohol involvement, and was preferred over the SRE (in terms of model fit) in direct model comparisons of stimulation and sedation. The ASQ compared favorably with the better-known SRE in predicting increased stimulation and reduced sedation following an acute alcohol challenge. The ASQ appears to be a valid self-report measure of alcohol sensitivity and therefore holds promise for identifying individuals at-risk for AUD and related problems.

Adult

Alcohol Drinking - psychology

Alcoholism - diagnosis

Alcoholism - psychology

Ethanol - administration & dosage

Female

Humans

Hypnotics and Sedatives - administration & dosage

Male

Retrospective Studies

Risk Factors

Self Report - standards

Surveys and Questionnaires - standards

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire: Evidence for Construct Validity
Creators: Kimberly A Fleming - University of Missouri
Bruce D Bartholow - University of Missouri
Joseph Hilgard - University of Missouri
Denis M McCarthy - University of Missouri
Susan E O'Neill - University of Missouri
Douglas Steinley - University of Missouri
Kenneth J Sher - University of Missouri
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, Vol.40(4), pp.880-888
DOI: 10.1111/acer.13015
PMID: 27012527
PMCID: PMC4820365
NLM abbreviation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res
ISSN: 0145-6008
eISSN: 1530-0277
Grant note: K05-AA017242 / NIAAA NIH HHS K05 AA017242 / NIAAA NIH HHS T32 AA013526 / NIAAA NIH HHS F31 AA022551 / NIAAA NIH HHS R01 AA023248 / NIAAA NIH HHS P60 AA011998 / NIAAA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 04/2016
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984446447502771

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