Test-retest Reliability of the Spanish Version of the Dissipation Rumination Scale

The Hispanic population has become the largest minority in the United States. To adequately address this population in a research and treatment context, increasing numbers of translated instruments are essential. More specific to drug using populations, trait rumination, which is the tendency for an individual to think about a previous provoking situation, has been linked to alcohol-related coping (Caetano, Clark, & Tam, 1998). The research in this area is growing, but has been limited to English speakers. The Spanish version of the Dissipation Rumination Scale (DRS) will allow for further research in this area among the Spanish speaking population. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of the Spanish version of the DRS. One hundred seven Spanish Speakers were administered the DRS twice 48 hours apart. The Spanish version of the DRS was found to have acceptable test-retest reliability (r = .70). During session one, all participants completed the Spanish Reading Comprehension test, to determine the reading ability in Spanish. This sample was found to have a third grade reading level. The results demonstrate that the translation of a document into another language can be done successfully. However, it is important to keep in mind that instruments need to be made to fit the reading abilities of the target population.