Dimensionality and Psychometric Analysis of an Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale

Abstract

Objective The current study examined the dimensionality of a protective behavioral strategies (PBS) measure among undergraduate, predominantly freshmen (92.5%) college students reporting recent alcohol use (r = 320). Method Participants completed a web-based survey assessing 22 PBS items. Factor analyses determined the underlying factor structure of the items. Congruence of the factor structure among gender and racial sub-groups was examined by rotating the sub-groups’ matrices via the Procrustes rotation method. Reliability analyses determined internal consistency. Results A 2-factor solution was retained utilizing 17 of the original items. Both PBS sub-scales (Limits and Avoidance) had acceptable internal consistency across all samples. Conclusions This PBS Scale was determined to be bi-dimensional and reliable. The dimensions suggest two underlying foci: ways to limit alcohol intake and ways to avoid alcohol intake while socializing. Practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Protective Behavioral Strategies as a Mediator Between Depressive Symptom Fluctuations and Alcohol Consumption: A Longitudinal Examination Among College Students

“…Second, other types of PBS could be examined as mediators of mental health symptoms and alcohol use outcomes. The current study used the PBSM (Novik & Boekeloo, 2011), but there are other measures of PBS (i.e., Protective Behavioral Strategies Survey [Martens et al, 2005], Strategy Questionnaire [Sugarman & Carey, 2007]) that assess other types of PBS. For instance, although the PBSM consists of a few items regarding avoiding drinking situations, the Strategy Questionnaire provides a subscale specifi cally measuring alternatives to drinking (e.g., "Finding other ways besides drinking to reduce stress").…”

Clarifying observed relationships between protective behavioral strategies and alcohol outcomes: The importance of response options.

“…Of the multiple scales that assess the use of PBS (Pearson, 2013; Prince et al, 2013), the three most commonly used are the Protective Behavioral Strategies Survey (PBSS; Martens et al, 2005), the Strategy Questionnaire (SQ; Sugarman & Carey, 2007), and the Protective Behavioral Strategies Measure (PBSM; Novik & Boekeloo, 2011). Each scale conceptualizes different dimensions of PBS.…”

“…For example, determining not to exceed a set number of drinks or keeping track of the number of drinks is a successful behavior to assure that alcohol limits are not exceeded”; Avoidance behaviors are “the manner in which students avoided drinking too much alcohol while socializing or partying or avoided alcohol altogether. For example, alternating nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks and pacing the number of drinks per hour are behaviors to avoid drinking too much once the individual has already begun to consume alcohol” (Novik & Boekeloo, 2011, pp. 72–73).…”

Protective behavioral strategies, alcohol expectancies, and drinking motives in a model of college student drinking.

“…Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are cognitive-behavioral strategies implemented by the drinker to reduce consumption and related harms (e.g., Bonar et al, 2012; Martens, Ferrier, Sheehy, Corbett, Anderson, & Simmons, 2005; Novik & Boekeloo, 2011; Pearson, 2013; Sugarman & Carey, 2007). Previous research investigating PBS has focused on strategies that individuals could use while drinking to moderate use.…”