'I am a Drinker': A Content, Correlational, and Factor Analytic Study of Measures of Drinker Identity Among College Students

ABSTRACT Background: Drinker identity research has proliferated over the last decade, resulting in 10 self-report questionnaire measures of this construct. However, it is unknown to what extent these measures accurately reflect the theorized multi-dimensional conceptualization of drinker identity.

Objectives: The current study set out to investigate and compare these different measures using content, correlational, and factor analyses. A content analysis is conducted to investigate dimensions captured within the 10 measures of drinker identity. Correlational and exploratory factor analyses on the items is conducted within a young adult sample (n = 1006). Descriptions of the measures, items, and factors within the measures are discussed.

Results: Across the 10 measures, seven distinct factors were identified by the content analysis, and multi-dimensionality was confirmed by both the correlational and factor analyses. Factor analysis on all items yielded four interpretable factors representing generalized identity, relative identity importance, identity value/affect, and social identification.

Conclusions: The results are discussed in terms of the multi-dimensional nature of drinker identity, the psychometric equivalence of the included measures, and further issues in defining and measuring drinker identity.