Examining the factor structure of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) in emerging adults: An exploratory structural equation modeling approach.

] = 19.22 [1.49]) from five Canadian universities provided survey data. Relative to an ill-fitting confirmatory factor analysis, ESEM showed excellent fit. The SURPS ESEM provided evidence supporting equal measurement across sex and alcohol use groups. Concurrent associations included hopelessness with enhancement, anxiety-coping, depression-coping, and conformity motives; anxiety sensitivity with anxiety-coping, depression-coping, conformity motives, and alcohol-related problems; impulsivity with all motives and problems; and sensation seeking with enhancement, social, depression-coping, expansion motives, and related problems. Results support the SURPS as a structurally valid measure of personality vulnerability for risky drinking motives and alcohol-related problems and provide evidence for ESEM approaches when analyzing measures containing correlated constructs. The concurrent associations between SURPS subscales and risky drinking motives and alcohol-related problems in emerging adults support their utility for identifying those who may benefit from targeted interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).