Smoking Decisional Balance Scale (SDBS)

Description

The Smoking Decisional Balance Scales are designed to evaluate the decision-making processes of individuals regarding smoking behaviors by weighing the perceived pros and cons of smoking. These scales are grounded in the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), which emphasizes the stages of change individuals undergo when modifying behavioral habits. By assessing the importance and impact of various beliefs about smoking, the scales aim to provide insights that can aid in smoking cessation efforts.

Authors and Contact Email

Information not available.

Purpose

The purpose of the Smoking Decisional Balance Scales is to assess the factors that influence an individual’s decision to smoke or quit smoking by evaluating the perceived advantages and disadvantages associated with smoking.

Test Year

1985

Administration Method and Scoring

Respondents rate each item on a scale from 1 to 5 based on how important each statement is to their decision about smoking, where 1 represents “Not important at all,” and 5 represents “Extremely important.” The items are categorized into pros and cons to provide a balanced overview of the individual’s decisional conflict regarding smoking.

Reliability and Validity

The scales have demonstrated reliability and validity in various studies, confirming their efficacy in measuring decisional balance related to smoking behaviors.

Factors and Subscales

The scales consist of two versions, a long form with 20 items and a short form with 6 items. The items are divided into pros and cons of smoking.

Keywords

Smoking, Decisional Balance, Transtheoretical Model, Behavior Change, Cessation

Items of ‘Smoking Decisional Balance Scales’

Long Form

1. Smoking cigarettes is pleasurable.
2. My smoking affects the health of others.
3. I like the image of a cigarette smoker.
4. Others close to me would suffer if I became ill from smoking.
5. I am relaxed and therefore more pleasant when smoking.
6. Because I continue to smoke, some people I know think I lack the character to quit.
7. If I try to stop smoking I’ll be irritable and a pain to be around.
8. Smoking cigarettes is hazardous to my health.
9. My family and friends like me better when I am happily smoking than when I am miserable trying to quit.
10. I’m embarrassed to have to smoke.
11. I like myself better when I smoke.
12. My cigarette smoking bothers other people.
13. Smoking helps me concentrate and do better work.
14. People think I’m foolish for ignoring the warnings about cigarette smoking.
15. Smoking cigarettes relieves tension.
16. People close to me disapprove of my smoking.
17. By continuing to smoke I feel I am making my own decisions.
18. I’m foolish to ignore the warnings about cigarettes.
19. After not smoking for a while a cigarette makes me feel great.
20. I would be more energetic right now if I didn’t smoke.

Short Form

1. Smoking cigarettes relieves tension.
2. I am embarrassed to have to smoke.
3. Smoking helps me concentrate and do better work.
4. My cigarette smoking bothers other people.
5. I am relaxed and therefore more pleasant when smoking.
6. People think I am foolish for ignoring the warnings about cigarette smoking.

References

http://habitslab.umbc.edu/decisional-balance-scales/http://www.addictioninfo.org/
Velicer, W.F., DiClemente, C.C., and Prochaska, J.O. (1985). Decisional balance measure for assessing and predicting smoking status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 1279-1289.
Prochaska, J.O., Velicer, W.F., DiClemente, C.C., & Fava, J. (1988). Measuring Processes of Change: Applications to the Cessation of Smoking. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56(4), 520-528.
Prochaska, J.O., Velicer, W.F., Rossi, J.S., Goldstein, M.G., Marcus, B.H., Rakowski, W., Fiore, C., Harlow, L.L., Redding, C.A., Rosenbloom, D., and Rossi, S.R. (1994). Stages of change and decisional balance for 12 problem behaviors. Health Psychology, 13, 39-46.
Carey, K.B., Maisto, S.A., Carey, M.P., and Purnine, D.M. (2001). Measuring readiness to change substance misuse among psychiatric outpatients: Reliability and validity of self-report measures. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 62, 79-88.
Ward, R.M., Velicer, W.F., and Rossi, J.S. (2004). Factorial invariance and internal consistency for the decisional balance inventory – short form. Addictive Behaviors, 29, 953-958.
Collins, Susan E., Carey, Kate B., and Otto, Jacqueline M. (2009). A New Decisional Balance Measure of Motivation to Change Among At-Risk College Drinkers. Psychol Addict Behav, 23(3): 464–471. doi:10.1037/a0015841