A reliability and validity analysis of an alcohol-related harm scale for surveys

Objective: To test reliability and construct validity of an alcohol-related harm scale widely used in North American surveys. Method: Data base: three representative general population household telephone surveys in Ontario, Canada (1994: N = 2,022, response rate 63%; 1995: N = 994, response rate 63 % 1996: N = 2,721, response rate 64%). Statistical analysis: psychometric a nalysis of internal consistency (Cronbach); Mokken scaling to test homogene ity of underlying construct; tests for construct validity by measuring asso ciations with similar scales. Results: The scale showed high internal consi stency and homogeneity of the underlying construct. The correlations with t he CAGE and ICD-10 criteria for dependence ranged between 0.5 and 0.7. Conc lusions: The harm scale is measuring a unidimensional construct, but one wh ich is not distinct from that measured by the CAGE or dependence criteria.