A factor-analytic study of Tarter's "hyperactivity-MBD" questionnaire.

A number of studies have suggested a relationship between childhood hyperactivity and subsequent alcohol abuse. Research with alcoholics has utilized retrospective, self-report questionnaires to examine the relationship between childhood hyperactivity and alcoholism. Since it is now recognized that "hyperactivity" has been rather loosely and broadly defined, it would seem reasonable to determine the independent behavioral dimensions subsumed within it. The present study factor analyzed the data of 145 alcoholic inpatients on Tarter's 'hyperactivity/MBD' questionnaire. Four factors which included 26 of Tarter's original 50 items were derived--hyperactivity-impulsivity, attentional-socialization problems, antisocial behavior, and learning disability. These factors and the items contained therein were compared with four scales developed on a rational basis by the Hesselbrocks. Additionally, the factor scores of the subjects were cluster analyzed yielding six interpretable clusters. A number of these, such as hyperactivity-impulsivity alone, hyperactivity-impulsivity combined with attentional-socialization problems, and hyperactivity-impulsivity combined with antisocial behavior, are of considerable theoretical interest. Accordingly, further requirements for establishing the validity of the factor analyzed scales and the cluster analysis-based responder groupings were delineated.