THE STRUCTURE OF DRINKING MOTIVES IN FIRST NATIONS ADOLESCENTS IN NOVA SCOTIA
The Journal of the National Center Volume 15, Number 1, 2008


The factor structure of the Drinking Motives Questionnaire - Revised (DMQ-R; Cooper, 1994) was examined in a sample of First Nations (i.e., Mi'kmaq) adolescents.

Exploratory principal components analysis indicated a three-factor structure (conformity, coping, and positive reinforcement motives), with the positive reinforcement motives of enhancement and social motives not separating into the expected two distinct factors. Moreover, community informants (e.g., school personnel) anecdotally indicated possible wording problems with some o the social motive items for the cultural group. A qualitative methodology - focus group interviews with Mi'kmaq adolescents - was used toexplore potential reasons for these observed diff erences in the structure of drinking motives from previous findings in the majority culture (i.e., a measurement problem vs. a real diff erence in the structure of drinkingmotives in the Mi'kmaq culture).

Qualitative findings support the interpretation that a true social motive for alcohol use does not exist in this cultural/age group and that drinking in social contexts for this group seems less motivated by social affi liation than by enhancement motives (e.g., drinking to party)

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