Short communicationThe utility of collateral informants in substance use research involving college students☆
Introduction
To date, there have been only a few studies that have examined correspondence between subject and collateral estimates of subject drinking/drug use among college students (Borsari and Carey, 2005, Laforge et al., 2005, Marlatt et al., 1998, Stacy et al., 1985). Each of these studies demonstrated moderate to good, statistically significant, correlations between subject and collateral reports for specific alcohol use variables. Laforge et al. (2005) and Baer et al. (2001) examined specific contextual variables associated with agreement scores between student self-reports and collateral estimates and found that collaterals who reported a greater frequency of drinking with their subject counterpart, higher levels of confidence in their reports of the subject's use, and a closer relationship with the subject (e.g., boyfriend/girlfriend) provided estimates that were more consistent with the subject's self-reported alcohol use.
Substance use research involving college students typically does not include collateral informants. At this time, little is known about subject–collateral correspondence specific to drug use other than alcohol. The purpose of the present study was three-fold: 1) to examine the associations between college student self-reported substance use and corresponding friends’ reports; 2) to evaluate the utility of friends as a collateral source; and 3) to assess the extent to which the collateral's own self-reported substance use influenced his/her estimate of the subject's use.
Section snippets
Study population demographics
Subjects were volunteer psychology students (N = 200): 153 (76.5%) females; mean age 18.8 (SD = 1.97); predominately white (94%); and freshman (63%). In addition, subjects and friends reported knowing each other, on average, for a little more than two years (i.e., 27.1 months, SD = 38.6).
Study procedures
Subjects were recruited via flyers posted in the psychology department, indicating that interested individuals bring a friend (a same-sex friend when available) with them to fill out questionnaires regarding
Subject substance use characteristics
In the 3-month period before the questionnaires were administered, 88.3% of the subjects reported they had consumed alcohol on at least one occasion. During this 90-day period, participants reported drinking, on average, 21.3 days (SD = 19.8). Detailed information regarding the current study sample's alcohol and other drug use characteristics are presented in Table 1.
Subject–friend correlations regarding subject substance use
Initial data analyses focused on the associations between the subject and friend's estimates of the subject's substance use. Given
Discussion
Relatively few studies have examined the degree of correspondence between subject and collateral reports of subject substance use within samples of college students. The few studies that have been done with college students typically focused on alcohol use. The present study extended the existing research by examining subject–collateral correspondence with respect to other types of substance use. Study results showed moderate to good, statistically significant correlations between
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Parts of this manuscript were presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) annual meeting in Chicago, Ill (2006).