title: The Addiction Belief Scale.
abstract: An eighteen-item Addiction Belief Scale (ABS) was developed to assess strength of belief in the disease versus free-will model of addiction (alpha = .91). Factor analysis of the ABS revealed three dimensions to the disease-model controversy of addiction. These include beliefs regarding personal power (subscale alpha = .91, n = 274), dichotomous thinking (subscale alpha = .83, n = 285), and addiction as a way of coping with life (subscale alpha = .47, n = 286). A discussion of scale analysis and suggestions for application of the ABS as a clinical and research instrument are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development/Institute for Child Study, University of Maryland College Park, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schaler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012494:Sampling Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires