title: Comparing stage of change measures in adolescent smokers.
abstract: This study compared stage of change measures among adolescent smokers. Participants were 56 adolescents who had received smoking tickets. They filled out an assessment packet including readiness to change measures [i.e., algorithm, Crittenden's measure, University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA), and Ladder], smoking history, a 30-day calendar, Fagerstrom, self-efficacy measures, locus of control, and a problem screen. The Crittenden algorithm was correlated with the Ladder and URICA motivation scores as well as with decreased frequency/amount of smoking and past quit attempts. Ladder scores were correlated with less cigarettes smoked, self-efficacy, and fewer adolescent problems. Readiness to change was unrelated to nicotine dependence and locus of control. The classification of participants into stages by the Crittenden algorithm was associated with a significant MANOVA (Wilks' Lambda F=1.56, P<.025), with group differences on reported quit attempts, abstinence self-efficacy, and adolescent problems. The Crittenden measure and the URICA motivation score were sensitive to a MET intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Box 8112, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cellucci
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology