OBJECTIVE: The factor structure of the Drinking Motives
Questionnaire - Revised (DMQ-R; Cooper, 1994) was
examined in a sample of First Nations (i.e., Mi'kmaq)
adolescents. RESULTS: Exploratory principal components
analysis indicated a three-factor structure (conformity,
coping, and positive reinforcement motives), with the
positive reinforcement motives of enhancement and
social motives not separating into the expected two
distinct factors. Moreover, community informants
(e.g., school personnel) anecdotally indicated possible
wording problems with some of the social motive items
for the cultural group. A qualitative methodology - focus
group interviews with Mi'kmaq adolescents - was used to
explore potential reasons for these observed diff erences
in the structure of drinking motives from previous
fi ndings in the majority culture (i.e., a measurement
problem vs. a real diff erence in the structure of drinking
motives in the Mi'kmaq culture). CONCLUSIONS:
Qualitative fi ndings support the interpretation that a
true social motive for alcohol use does not exist in this
cultural/age group and that drinking in social contexts
for this group seems less motivated by social affi liation
than by enhancement motives (e.g., drinking to party).