Self-Efficacy Scales – Drug Abstinence

Abstract

The Self-Efficacy Scales for Drug Abstinence are psychometric instruments designed to assess an individual’s perceived confidence in their ability to maintain abstinence from drug use across various challenging situations. Developed within the framework of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change, these scales, available in 20-item and 12-item versions, help clinicians and researchers identify specific high-risk contexts—such as negative emotional states, social pressure, or physical discomfort—that pose the greatest threat to sobriety. High scores indicate strong perceived Self-Efficacy for drug abstinence, which is a critical predictor of successful long-term recovery and relapse prevention.

Keywords

Self-efficacy, drug abstinence, substance abuse, Transtheoretical Model, TTM, addiction, relapse prevention, psychometrics, confidence.

Authors

Carlo C. DiClemente, James O. Prochaska, Wayne F. Velicer, M. L. Hiller, K. M. Broome, K. Knight, D. D. Simpson.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Drug Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (DASES) is to quantify the degree of confidence an individual has in their capacity to resist the urge to use drugs when faced with specific high-risk internal and external cues. This measurement is crucial for tailoring treatment interventions, as it highlights the domains where the individual requires the most support (e.g., coping with negative emotions versus handling social pressure). By identifying these specific weaknesses, clinicians can focus on enhancing coping skills relevant to the identified high-risk scenarios, thereby improving the likelihood of sustained abstinence.

The scale is rooted in the principles of social cognitive theory, emphasizing that perceived Self-Efficacy is a powerful mediator of behavior change. In the context of the Transtheoretical Model, self-efficacy is a core construct that increases as individuals move through the stages of change (from contemplation to maintenance).

Construct

The central psychological construct measured is Abstinence Self-Efficacy. This refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to successfully execute the behaviors required to maintain drug abstinence, even when exposed to situations that previously triggered drug use. The measurement specifically targets confidence across four empirically derived dimensions of high-risk situations, which are common triggers for relapse in substance use disorders.

This construct is highly relevant in behavioral health, as low self-efficacy is a significant predictor of relapse. The scale operationalizes this construct by presenting specific situational challenges and asking respondents to rate their confidence in staying abstinent using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Not at all confident) to 5 (Extremely confident).

Validity

The validity of the Drug Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (DASES) is primarily supported by its strong theoretical grounding in the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and its demonstrated factor structure. Research, such as that by Hiller et al. (2000), confirms the scale’s construct validity through factor analysis, showing that the items reliably group into distinct subscales representing different relapse domains.

Furthermore, DASES scores exhibit predictive validity, consistently correlating with an individual’s stage of change and their subsequent relapse outcomes. Higher self-efficacy scores are generally associated with greater readiness for change and lower probability of relapse, confirming that the scale accurately measures the intended construct related to coping capacity in high-risk situations.

Reliability

The scale demonstrates strong internal consistency, confirming its reliability across its factor structure. The specific Cronbach’s alpha coefficients reported by Hiller et al. (2000) for the 20-item version’s subscales indicate excellent reliability, suggesting that the items within each factor measure the same underlying dimension consistently.

Reported alpha coefficients for the subscales are:

• Negative Affect: 0.92
• Social/Positive: 0.92
• Physical and Other Concerns: 0.87
• Withdrawal/Urges (Cravings and Urges): 0.89

These values, all exceeding the generally accepted threshold of 0.80, confirm the robust psychometric properties of the instrument for use in clinical and research settings.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis of the 20-item version, as detailed by Hiller et al. (2000), revealed a clear four-factor structure, which aligns with common relapse scenarios identified in addiction research. These four factors represent distinct domains of self-efficacy challenges related to drug abstinence. The items load cleanly onto these factors, supporting the intended multidimensional nature of the scale.

The four identified factors and their item compositions (based on the 20-item version) are:

• Negative Affect: Items 3, 6, 14, 16, 18 (Confidence in coping with emotional distress, such as depression, worry, frustration, and anger).
• Social/Positive: Items 4, 8, 15, 17, 20 (Confidence in maintaining abstinence during social situations, celebrations, or when offered drugs by others).
• Physical and Other Concerns: Items 2, 5, 9, 12, 13 (Confidence in dealing with physical discomfort, fatigue, pain, or preoccupation with drug use, such as dreaming about it).
• Cravings and Urges: Items 1, 7, 10, 11, 19 (Confidence in resisting intense internal experiences related to drug use, including withdrawal agony, physical craving, or impulsive urges).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report inventory (Psychological Scale)

Format: Multi-item questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale (1=Not at all confident; 5=Extremely confident).

Language Available: English (Primary validation language).

Population Group: Individuals with substance use disorders, particularly those seeking or currently undergoing treatment for drug addiction, including probationers.

Age Group: Adults and adolescents involved in substance use recovery programs.

Population Details: Has been validated successfully in diverse clinical populations, including those with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders (DiClemente, Nidecker, & Bellack, 2008).

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their confidence in maintaining abstinence across a range of specified high-risk scenarios. Scores are typically calculated by summing or averaging item responses within each factor, yielding subscale scores and a total self-efficacy score.

Keywords

Substance dependence, coping mechanisms, addiction treatment, psychological assessment, behavioral change, self-efficacy, psychometric properties, assessment tool, drug abuse.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Information regarding the scale can be found via the Habits Lab associated with C. C. DiClemente.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale is commonly utilized in academic research and clinical practice. It is associated with the work originating in the 1980s and 1990s related to the Transtheoretical Model. Key validation work on the specific drug abstinence version was published in 2000 (Hiller et al.).

The instrument can be found at: http://habitslab.umbc.edu/self-efficacy-scales/

Reference’s

• DiClemente, C. C. (1986). Self-Efficacy and the addictive behaviors. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 4, 302-315.
• Velicer, W.F., DiClemente, C.C., Rossi, J. S., Prochaska, J. O. (1990). Relapse situations and self-efficacy: An integrative model. Addictive Behaviors, 15, 271-283.
• Hiller, M.L., Broome, K.M., Knight, K., and Simpson, D.D. (2000). Measuring self-efficacy among drug-involved probationers. Psychological Reports, 86, 529-538.
• Velasquez, M.M., Maurer, G., Crouch, C., & DiClemente, C.C. (2001). Group Treatment for Substance Abuse: A Stages-of-Change Therapy Manual. New York, NY: Guildford Publications.
• DiClemente, C.C., Nidecker, M., & Bellack, A.S. (2008). Motivation and the stages of change among individuals with severe mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 34(1), 25-35.
• Nidecker, M., DiClemente, C.C., Bennett, M.E., & Bellack, A.S. (2008). Application of the Transtheoretical Model of change: Psychometric properties of leading measures in patients with co-occuring drug abuse and severe mental illness. Addictive Behaviors, 33(8), 1021-1030.
• Werch, C.E., & DiClemente, C.C. (1994). A multi-component stage model for matching drug prevention strategies and messages to youth stage of use. Health Education Research, 9, 37-46.

Items of the Self-Efficacy Scales- Drug Abstinence

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Drug Abstinence Self-efficacy Scale 20 items

1. When I am in agony because of stopping or withdrawing from drug use.
2. When I have a headache.
3. When I am feeling depressed.
4. When I am on vacation and want to relax.
5. When I am concerned about someone.
6. When I am worried.
7. When I have the urge to use drugs to see what happens.
8. When I am being offered drugs in a social situation.
9. When I dream about using drugs.
10. When I want to test my will power over using drugs.
11. When I am feeling a physical need or craving for drugs.
12. When I am physically tired.
13. When I am experiencing some physical pain or injury.
14. When I feel like blowing up because of frustration.
15. When I see others using drugs at a bar or a party.
16. When I sense everything is going wrong for me.
17. When people I used to use drugs with encourage me to use drugs.
18. When I am feeling angry inside.
19. When I experience an urge or impulse to use drugs that catches me unprepared.
20. When I am excited or celebrating with others.

Drug Abstinence Self-efficacy Scale 12 items

1. When I am feeling depressed.
2. When I am concerned about someone.
3. When I am worried.
4. When I have the urge to use drugs to see what happens.
5. When I want to test my will power over using drugs.
6. When I am feeling a physical need or craving for drugs.
7. When I am physically tired.
8. When I am experiencing some physical pain or injury.
9. When I feel like blowing up because of frustration.
10. When I see others using drugs at a bar or a party.
11. When people I used to use drugs with encourage me to use drugs.
12. When I am excited or celebrating with others.

Scoring Key (5-point Likert Scale):

1. Not at all confident
2. Not very confident
3. Moderately confident
4. Very confident
5. Extremely confident

Subscale Item Composition (20 Item Version):

• Negative Affect: 3, 6, 14, 16, 18
• Social/Positive: 4, 8, 15, 17, 20
• Physical and Other Concerns: 2, 5, 9, 12, 13
• Cravings and Urges: 1, 7, 10, 11, 19

Subscale Item Composition (12 Item Version):

• Negative Affect: 1, 3, 9
• Social/Positive: 10, 11, 12
• Physical and Other Concerns: 2, 7, 8
• Cravings and Urges: 4, 5, 6