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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
 APHA 2005
 
3340.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 6

Abstract #110764

Assessing cross-cultural differences in the DSM-IV alcohol use disorder constructs across non-Hispanic Caucasians, non-Hispanic African-Americans, and Hispanics

Adam C. Carle, MA, PhD, Statistical Research Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Survey Methods Research, Washington, DC 20233-9100, 301-763-1863, adam.c.carle@census.gov

Evidence for the internal validity of the DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence constructs in the general population has been demonstrated in the research literature. However, despite reported differences in the prevalence of alcohol use disorders among Hispanics, non-Hispanic African-Americans, and non-Hispanic Caucasians, less attention has been given to cross-cultural differences in the constructs across these groups. This is problematic when coupled with theoretical reasons to suspect that the internal validity of these constructs may differ for these groups. The possibility exists that assessment tools and studied constructs may provide differential internal validity and/or reliability across multiple populations. Measurement bias, a type of non-sampling error also labeled differential item functioning, is present when individuals equivalent on true levels of a variable, but from different groups, do not have identical probabilities of observed scores. Bias can lead to inaccurate estimates, attenuate or accentuate group differences, and affect the validity and reliability of research. When bias is present, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to interpret group differences on the construct being measured. Using confirmatory factor analysis for ordered-categorical measures (CFA-OCM) and data from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiological Survey (NLAES), a nationally representative survey of households, the paper addresses these issues and presents analyses exploring measurement bias on a standardized measure of alcohol abuse and dependence across Hispanic, non-Hispanic African-American, and non-Hispanic Caucasian adults. The presentation describes the presence of statistically significant measurement bias, its effects on epidemiological estimates, and posits hypotheses for the possible sources of these cross-cultural differences.

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