Factor structure of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test.

Abstract

The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) was administered to 1000 motorists (mean age 42; 67 women) arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). The MAST item scores of the entire sample and of subgroups of alcoholics (MAST scores of 5 or above) and nonalcoholics were factor analyzed. A principal-components analysis of the entire sample yielded 4 independent dimensions of alcoholic symptomatology which accounted for a maximal proportion of the individual differences on the MAST: help-seeking, discord, alienation and denial. Six independent factors were found for the alcoholic subgroup (54% of the entire sample): denial, debilitation, marital discord, work problems, help-seeking and social discord. No consistent patterns were found in the nonalcoholic subgroup. The multidimensionality of the MAST in the sample as a whole and in the alcoholic subgroup indicates the wide variety of drinking problems in the DWI population which must be taken into account in diagnosis and treatment.