Validation of the Alcohol Use Questionnaire (AUQ) in the Italian Context: A Measure for Assessing Alcohol Intake and Binge Drinking

An accurate assessment of alcohol consumption is essential for identifying at-risk individuals and informing prevention and intervention strategies. The present study aimed to validate the Italian version of the Alcohol Use Questionnaire (AUQ), a self-report instrument designed to assess both genera...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eleonora Topino, Alessio Gori
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/15/7/137
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Summary:An accurate assessment of alcohol consumption is essential for identifying at-risk individuals and informing prevention and intervention strategies. The present study aimed to validate the Italian version of the Alcohol Use Questionnaire (AUQ), a self-report instrument designed to assess both general alcohol intake and binge drinking patterns. A sample of 378 Italian participants (54.5% female; <i>M<sub>age</sub></i> = 26.76 years, <i>SD</i> = 8.44) completed the AUQ along with additional measures assessing binge eating and psychological vulnerabilities related to addiction. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a bifactor model reflecting two distinct but related dimensions: general intake and binge drinking. Network analysis highlighted the central role of perceived frequency of intoxication within the structure of alcohol-related behaviors. Both AUQ indices showed good internal consistency and significant associations with external variables, particularly impulsivity, dissociation, and affect dysregulation, supporting construct validity. The Italian AUQ emerges as a valid and reliable tool for assessing alcohol use patterns and may be useful in both research and clinical practice.
ISSN:2174-8144
2254-9625