Cross-Cultural Validity of Alcohol Dependence across Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Caucasians

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Cross-Cultural Validity of Alcohol Dependence across Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Caucasians
Language: English
Authors: Carle, Adam C.
Source: Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 2008 30(1):106-120.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2008
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Test Bias, Validity, Drinking, Factor Analysis, Item Analysis, Measures (Individuals), Alcohol Abuse, Hispanic Americans, Whites, Surveys, Cultural Awareness, Cultural Differences
DOI: 10.1177/0739986307311618
ISSN: 0739-9863
Abstract: Confirmatory factor analyses for ordered-categorical measures probed for differential item functioning on a standardized measure of alcohol dependence across Hispanics (n = 834) and non-Hispanic Caucasians (n = 14,001) in a nationally representative survey of alcohol use in the United States conducted in 1992. Analyses investigated whether 30 items operationalizing the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (4th ed.) construct of alcohol dependence provided equivalent measurement. The results demonstrated statistically significant differential item functioning for 7 items, suggesting caution regarding the cross-ethnic validity of alcohol dependence. Sensitivity analyses suggested that item-level differences had a limited impact, lending confidence to previous findings. The findings underscore the necessity of cultural sensitivity when generalizing measures and constructs developed in the majority to Hispanic individuals and demonstrate the need for evaluations of differential item functioning in contemporary data. (Contains 1 table.)
Abstractor: Author
Number of References: 60
Entry Date: 2008
Accession Number: EJ783206
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Confirmatory factor analyses for ordered-categorical measures probed for differential item functioning on a standardized measure of alcohol dependence across Hispanics (n = 834) and non-Hispanic Caucasians (n = 14,001) in a nationally representative survey of alcohol use in the United States conducted in 1992. Analyses investigated whether 30 items operationalizing the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (4th ed.) construct of alcohol dependence provided equivalent measurement. The results demonstrated statistically significant differential item functioning for 7 items, suggesting caution regarding the cross-ethnic validity of alcohol dependence. Sensitivity analyses suggested that item-level differences had a limited impact, lending confidence to previous findings. The findings underscore the necessity of cultural sensitivity when generalizing measures and constructs developed in the majority to Hispanic individuals and demonstrate the need for evaluations of differential item functioning in contemporary data. (Contains 1 table.)
ISSN:0739-9863
DOI:10.1177/0739986307311618