Martinez-Loredo, Victor , Gonzalez-Roz, Alba , Martin-Roig, Alba , FERNÁNDEZ ARTAMENDI, SERGIO
No
J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs
Article
Científica
2.4
1.102
01/09/2023
001092599600012
2-s2.0-85174750846
Objective: The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN-SS) is a screening instrument evaluating internalizing/exter-nalizing behaviors. This study examines the validity evidence of the GAIN-SS in Spanish adolescents and explores sex differences in its performance. Method: Participants were 1,547 Spanish adolescents from the community (females = 48.2%, mean [SD] age = 15.20 [0.74]). A cross-sectional online assessment was used to evaluate past-month substance use and gambling involvement. Problems associated to these behaviors were assessed using the GAIN-SS, the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA), and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI). Factor analyses were conducted to examine the internal structure of the GAIN-SS. Results: Results revealed four subscales accounting for 47.03% of the variance related to externalizing (EDScr), internalizing (IDScr), substance use disorders (SDScr), and crime/violence problems (CVScr). Concurrent validity was supported through significant correlations between the GAIN-SS subscales, alco-hol-related problems, and gambling behavior, with the exception of the IDScr. Past-month gamblers or substance users evidenced higher scores in the CVScr. Females reported more internalizing symptoms, whereas males reported higher scores in CVScr. Conclusions: The GAIN-SS is a valid screener for substance use and gambling in Spanish adolescents. Sensitivity of the GAIN-SS to sex differences suggests that it may be useful to design gender-sensitive interventions.
adolescent; alcoholism; crime; cross-sectional study; drug dependence; female; gambling; human; male; violence; Adolescent; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Crime; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gambling; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders; Violence