Validation of the spanish version of the Marijuana consequences questionnaire (S-MACQ)

Abstract

The present study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the 50-item Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (S-MACQ) by analyzing the psychometric properties of internal, convergent, and concurrent validity and estimating internal consistency. We also examined the correlation between the brief (SB-MACQ) and the full S-MACQ and whether they similarly correlate with marijuana outcomes and marijuana-related variables. A sample of 470 college students that reported last year marijuana use completed an online survey. Results from confirmatory factor analyses supported an 8-factor structure. The scores of the S-MACQ showed appropriate internal, concurrent, and convergent validity, alongside with adequate internal consistency. The S-MACQ was largely correlated with the BS-MACQ and the correlations between these two versions and marijuana outcomes/marijuana-related variables did not significantly differ. Findings supported the S-MACQ as a valid measure to assess marijuana-related problems in Spanish-speaking students, and it may be effectively used to identify a broad diversity of marijuana problems in this population.