The development of a brief scale to measure outcome expectations of reduced consumption among excessive drinkers.
This paper describes the development of a brief scale to measure outcome expectations of reduced consumption among excessive drinkers (low dependence drinkers consuming more than recommended levels). This work, which forms part of a larger matching study of brief intervention, is based on the general proposition that outcome expectations of reduced consumption might be more important than previously thought for understanding and predicting behavior change. Twelve outcomes, derived from interviews with excessive drinkers, formed the basis of a questionnaire, the Excessive Drinker Outcome Expectations Scale (EDOES), which examined not only the valence of each outcome, but a comparison between expectations of reduced consumption versus drinking usual amounts. The questionnaire was administered to 235 hospitalized excessive drinkers. Principal components analysis produced two scales, reflecting the costs and benefits of change. The questionnaire proved to have acceptable levels of test-retest reliability and predictive validity. Analyses of construct validity revealed that outcome expectations of reduced consumption were increasingly positive across stages of change.
Rollnick
S
S
Department of General Practice, University of Wales, College of Medicine, Sydney, Australia.
Morgan
M
M
Heather
N
N
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires