Structural, concurrent, and predictive validity of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale in early adolescence

Abstract A brief personality risk profile (23 items), the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale was tested for concurrent and predictive validity for substance use in 1139 adolescents (grades 8–10) from a mid-sized city in western Canada. The SURPS was administered in two waves of a longitudinal study separated by 12 months (2003–04). As expected, four subscales were supported by confirmatory factor and metric invariance analysis. In regression analysis, three subscales, hopelessness, impulsivity, and sensation seeking, were positively related to current and future use; while one, anxiety sensitivity, was negatively related. Findings suggest clinical utility for screening adolescents at risk for substance use.