The Construction, Validation and Use of a Guttman Scale of Adolescent Substance Use: An Investigation of Family Relationships

Abstract

A Guttman scale of substance use was constructed from the self-report data of adolescents' substance use. The properties of this scale were excellent indicating that substance use is unidimensional and cumulative. A prospective analysis over two years indicated that the temporal sequence of substance use implied by the Guttman scale represents stages in substance use – adolescents transition from alcohol use, to cigarette use, to marijuana use, and finally, to hard drugs. Relations between adolescent stage of substance use and adolescent “deviancy” validated the order of substances in the scale. Concurrent and prospective relations between the family environment and stage of substance use demonstrated the usefulness of the scale in research on adolescent substance use.