Development of a Cognitive Measure of Interpretive Style for Adult Children of Alcoholics

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop and test the reliability and validity of an instrument to measure interpretive style of adult children of alcoholics related to the context of growing-up family experiences. An item pool was generated targeting six dimensions identified from the alcoholic family and cognitive theory literature: family secret, responsibilityhlame, worrykhreat, sociaUemotiona1 support, challenge, and predictability. Content validity was established by a panel of experts and pilot testing.Reliability and concurrent validity were tested by administering the Interpretive Style Questionnaire (ISQ) to a sample of adult children of alcoholics ( N = 96), along with reliable and valid family, cognitive, and psychological adjustment measures. Internal consistency coefficients ranging from .75 to .90 and stability coefficients ranging from .82 to .90 for the six dimensions established adequate reliability. Correlations in the appropriate direction with family and cognitive measures demonstrated concurrent validity, while correlations in the appropriate direction with psychological adjustment measures for most subscales demonstrated discriminate validity.