Assessment of the pros and cons of stress management among adolescents: development and validation of a decisional balance measure.
OBJECTIVE
This article reports on the development of a decisional balance measure based on the transtheoretical model (TTM) for stress management among adolescents.


METHODS
Measurement development was conducted with participants of a pilot survey.


METHODS
Surveys were completed in health and physical education classes.


METHODS
Ninth and tenth graders (N=317) completed an assessment of TTM constructs.


METHODS
The focus of this paper is the development of a decisional balance measure.


METHODS
A split-half cross-validation procedure was implemented.


RESULTS
A brief reliable eight-item instrument was developed measuring the pros and cons of practicing stress management. A theoretically consistent pattern of pros and cons across the stages of change was obtained and indicated construct validity. Girls were more likely to practice and acknowledge benefits of stress management.


CONCLUSIONS
This instrument will aid future work on promoting stress management practices among adolescents, particularly when using the TTM to develop interventions.
Mauriello
Leanne M
LM
Pro-Change Behavior Systems, P.O. Box 755 West Kingston, RI 02892, USA. lmauriello@prochange.com
Rossi
Joseph S
JS
Fava
Joseph L
JL
Redding
Colleen A
CA
Robbins
Mark
M
Prochaska
James O
JO
Meier
Kathryn S
KS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D000465:Algorithms; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D012572:School Health Services; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*