Validation of a nine-dimensional measure of drinking motives for use in clinical applications: The desired effects of drinking scale

The Desired Effects of Drinking (DEOD) is a 36-item, 9-subscale, self-report measure assessing reasons for drinking, concerning three general motives for alcohol use: Coping, Social, and Enhancement. These subscales include Negative Feelings, Self-esteem, Relief, Positive Feelings, Social Facilitation, Assertion, Drug Effects, Sexual Enhancement, and Mental effects. As part of the COMBINE study, scores from the nine DEOD subscales, along with additional information about alcohol consumption and consequences, were incorporated into personalized client feedback as part of a motivational enhancement intervention and as a guide for the development of a plan for treatment and change. With responses from a clinical sample of 572 individuals seeking alcohol treatment, the 9-subscale structure of the instrument was substantiated through a second-order confirmatory factor analysis, revealing moderately large to large factor loadings and good indices of model fit. A third-order factor analysis indicated these nine subscales adequately represented the three drinking motives. It is suggested these three general motives for alcohol use, which may be more distinctly delineated into the nine dimensions reflected in the DEOD structure, can be used clinically to help plan appropriate interventions and facilitate behavior change.

► The factor structure and validity of the Desired Effects of Drinking (DEOD) is assessed.
► The DEOD measures three general motives for drinking: Coping, Social, and Enhancement.
► Concurrent validity of subscales was obtained with alcohol-related measures.
► Subscales and total scores predicted alcohol consumption and obsession with drinking.
► The DEOD can be used clinically to help plan interventions and facilitate behavior change.