Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Preliminary Validation of the Comprehensive Cannabis Motives Questionnaire in Dutch and Spanish.

Moffitt J.; Gonzalez P.; Kroon E.; Van der Boor C.; Pickering C.; Roberts C.; Christiansen P. · Substance use & misuse · 2026

**Background & Methods** This cross-cultural validation study translated and psychometrically tested the Comprehensive Cannabis Motives Questionnaire (CCMQ) into Dutch and Spanish using forward and back-translation methodology. Cannabis users from the Netherlands (N=200) and Spain (N=209) completed the CCMQ alongside the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R), with confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group invariance testing conducted to assess psychometric properties across languages, countries, and sex. **Key Findings** - The original eight-factor structure of the CCMQ was supported in both Dutch and Spanish translations, with confirmatory factor analysis demonstrating adequate model fit for each language version. - After removing one Food item and two low-variance Conformity items from the Dutch version, the revised 38-item instrument demonstrated strict invariance across English, Dutch, and Spanish groups, with sex-specific modifications yielding 40 items (CCMQ2 removed) and English/Spanish comparisons retaining the full 41-item version. - Structural equation modeling and correlational analyses confirmed predictive validity for CUDIT-R scores, with CCMQ subscales showing meaningful associations with cannabis use disorder severity across cultural contexts. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. **Evidence Quality** This validation study demonstrates strong evidence for the psychometric properties and cross-cultural validity of the CCMQ translations; however, several limitations warrant consideration. The study is cross-sectional, precluding assessment of temporal stability or test-retest reliability. Sample sizes, while adequate for factor analysis (N=200-209 per country), may not fully represent diverse user populations or capture rare usage patterns. The necessity for language-specific item modifications (removal of Food and Conformity items) suggests potential cultural differences in motivational constructs that require nuanced interpretation. Additionally, reliance on self-report measures introduces potential bias, and the restriction to Dutch and Spanish populations limits generalizability to other linguistic and cultural contexts. The paper's focus on motivational assessment rather than clinical outcomes limits direct clinical applicability for treatment guidance.

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