Construct validity of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale.

Abstract

This research further establishes the construct validity of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) by determining-the personality dimensions assessed by the scale. Subjects were 161 male and 228 female psychiatric patients divided by sex into alcoholic, antisocial psychiatric, and general psychiatric groups. To investigate the sensitivity of the MAC to antisociality, analyses of variance of MAC scores were computed for the three patient groups for each sex. To investigate personality dimensions and self-descriptions associated with elevated MAC scores, patients' MAC scores were intercorrelated with other scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. An investigation of the discrete personality dimensions assessed by the MAC items was accomplished by factor analyzing the scale. Results indicated that the MAC is composed of six major factors. The MAC was found to be sensitive to impulsivity, high energy levels, interpersonal shallowness, and general psychological maladjustment, but was not found to be sensitive to a general dimension of antisociality. Further research is required to investigate the diagnostic utility of the factor scales of the MAC.

New Measures for Assessing Alcohol and Drug Abuse With the MMPI-2: The APS and AAS

“…The MAC scale continues to show considerable promise as a measure of potential alcohol and drug abuse problems (Ward & Jackson, 1991;Wolf, Schubert, Patterqon, & Grande, 1991). For a discussion of the effectiveness of the MAC scale for detecting addiction problems, see Schwartz and Graham (1979) and Sher and McCrady (1984).…”

Addictive Personality Factors

“…A questionnaire was composed consisting of the 29 items that loaded greater than or equal to .400 on the six primary factors that Schwartz and Graham (1979) extracted from the MacAndrew scale: Cognitive Impairment, Social Maladjustment, Interpersonal Competence, Risk Taking, Extroversion and Exhibitionism, and Moral Indignation. Also included were 11 items from the Compulsiveness Inventory, a self-report instrument derived from the Leyton Obsessional Scale (Cooper, 1970) and consisting of three subscales: Indecision and Double-checking, Order and Regularity, and Detail and Perfectionism (Kagan & Squires, 1985b).…”

“…One such analysis (Schwartz & Graham, 1979) revealed six primary dimensions. The present study compared mean scores obtained by populations addicted to diverse substances or activities on each of these six dimensions.…”

Use Of The MMPI And Its Derived Scales With Sex Offenders: I. Reliability and Validity Studies

“…Rathus, Fox, & Ortins, 1980). Schwartz and Graham (1979) examined the construct validity of this scale in 161 male and 228 female psychiatric patients.…”