Initial Development and Preliminary Validation of the Physical Drinking Contexts Scale

Abstract

Literature on the location and contextual features of drinking events (i.e., physical context) remains scant and underdeveloped. This study developed and provided preliminary validation of a measure typical physical drinking contexts. Participants (N = 1,642) self-reported their typical physical drinking context (via items generated), their drinking behavior, demographics, and typical social drinking context. Three samples (total N = 1,642) assessed factor structure, measurement invariance, and validity testing. Factor analyses suggested a four-factor structure, indicative of high arousal private (e.g., at a large house party), high arousal public (e.g., at a concert), low arousal private (e.g., at home), and low arousal public (e.g., on a date) contexts. Measurement invariance was established across sex, race/ethnicity, and drinking frequency, and convergent and discriminant validity was evaluated via bivariate correlations with social/solitary drinking frequency. High arousal contexts were associated with heavier/binge drinking, whereas high arousal private contexts and low arousal contexts were associated with greater negative consequences. Relations between high arousal contexts and heavier drinking remained above and beyond the overall drinking frequency and social context items. Findings lay the framework for future validation and longitudinal/diary studies to test how (and for whom) relations between physical drinking contexts and drinking behavior operate.