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As part of the Rutgers Health and Human Development Project, White & Labouvie (1989) developed and published the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI). They cited a need for a valid and reliable means of assessment of adolescents experiencing problem drinking patterns, and thus at risk for future alcohol use disorders. The twenty-three item measure was reported to screen accurately for adolescents that reported experiencing negative consequence of alcohol use and would benefit from further intervention. Since the time of the initial publication, the RAPI has become a common tool in both clinical and research settings. The acceptance of the RAPI as a unidimensional measure of negative consequence of alcohol use appears to have been relatively unchecked beyond the initial report. The lack of rigorous follow-up on the RAPI is disturbing in light of its wide use in adolescent, young adult and alcohol literature. The present study was designed to investigate the factor structure reported in the original paper, using a sample selected to remove variance associated with both age and gender. A sample comprised of college-aged males who have reported a history of alcohol use was targeted. Exploratory Factor Analyses with a subsequent Confirmatory Factor analysis were conducted on the 23-items or the RAPI. Additionally, a proposed nomenclature of factored items was discussed to support continued investigation of the psychometrics of the RAPI. Post-Hoc analysis were used to test alternative hypothesis of item responses between participants who reported experiencing no current and past alcohol use problems verses participants who did report current and past problems due to alcohol use. Difference testing of item responses was used to identify items which discriminate between those reporting no current or past problems and those that do report positive alcohol use problems. Discussion of the significance of items that were found to discriminate between types of drinkers and t

This study examined how gender specific assertiveness, drink history, and sexual experience history, were associated with women’s ability to refuse alcoholic beverages from a man in a simulated high risk situation. Women (n=111) answered an anonymous survey that included the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP 64), the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, the Quantity Frequency Index (QFI), The Women’s Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (WSE), and the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES). In addition, participants listened and responded to an audio-taped role play where a man offers multiple drinks in a high risk situation. Women’s gender specific assertiveness or assertiveness in general did not predict whether one would have more difficulty refusing alcoholic beverages from a man. Participants with a higher number of drinking days in the past three months were less likely to refuse a drink offer at all three time-points. In addition, women who endorsed having ambivalent sexual experiences were more likely to accept drink offers. This only became significant when the data set was restricted only to women who had at least one sexual interaction in the past 12 months. Participants had the tendency to deny alcoholic beverages more over time. In other words, fewer women accepted drink offers over time.