Validation of the AUDIT Scale and Factors Associated with Alcohol Use Disorder in Adolescents: Results of a National Lebanese Study

Abstract

BackgroundThis study objective was to evaluate the prevalence of AUD and related factors (smoking, internet addiction, social anxiety, child abuse, and bullying) among a representative sample of Lebanese adolescents, and to validate and confirm psychometric properties of the AUDIT scale. MethodsA cross-sectional study, conducted between January and May 2019, enrolled 1810 adolescents aged between 14 and 17. Alcohol dependence was defined as a high AUDIT score (≥8; score range 0-40). A principal component analysis technique to confirm the validity of the construct of the AUDIT scale score was done and a confirmatory analysis to assess the structure of the instrument was conducted. ResultsThe mean AUDIT score was 6.46 ± 8.44 and high risk of hazardous alcohol drinking was found in 507 (28.0%) adolescents 95% CI 0.259-0.301. One factor solution of the AUDIT scale was found after running the factor analysis (α Cronbach =0.978). Higher cigarette (Beta=0.372; p<0.001) and waterpipe (Beta=0.319; p<0.001) dependence, higher child sexual (Beta=0.581; p<0.001) and neglect (Beta=0.106; p<0.001) abuse, higher internet addiction (Beta=0.088; p<0.001), separated parents compared to living together (Beta=3.202; p<0.001) and higher bullying victimization (Beta=0.143; p<0.001) were significantly associated with higher AUDIT scores. ConclusionAlcohol dependence among Lebanese adolescents seems to be influenced by several risk factors, such as cigarette and waterpipe dependence, parents' divorce, higher internet addiction, bullying victimization, and childhood sexual abuse and neglect. Parents and healthcare professionals could use this data for early interventions.