Table of Contents
Description
The “Processes of Change Questionnaire – Alcohol version” is a psychometric tool designed to assess various cognitive and behavioral changes related to alcohol use among individuals. Utilizing constructs from the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), it helps evaluate the processes a person engages in while contemplating or making changes to their drinking behavior. The questionnaire outlines specific processes that can facilitate behavior change and serves as a valuable resource for clinicians, researchers, and individuals seeking to understand their relationship with alcohol. It consists of two versions: a 40-item version and a 20-item version, with each tailored to capture distinct aspects of the change process. The scale can be used in both clinical and non-clinical settings, providing insights into individual progress in overcoming alcohol-related issues.
Authors and Contact Email
Information not available.
Purpose
The purpose of the Processes of Change Questionnaire – Alcohol version is to measure the cognitive and behavioral strategies individuals employ as they work towards changing their alcohol consumption patterns. The goal is to identify specific processes that facilitate change, enabling tailored interventions and support.
Test Year
Information not available.
Administration Method and Scoring
The questionnaire can be administered through self-report measures, where participants respond to each item based on their personal experiences with alcohol use. Responses are typically rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with options ranging from 1 (Never) to 5 (Repeatedly), indicating the frequency of engagement with each statement. Scoring involves summing the responses for each subscale to evaluate overall progression in the processes of change.
Reliability and Validity
Information not available.
Factors and Subscales
The Processes of Change Questionnaire incorporates several experiential and behavioral factors. Experiential factors include consciousness raising, dramatic relief, environmental re-evaluation, self-re-evaluation, and social liberation. Behavioral factors include contingency management, counter-conditioning, helping relationships, self-liberation, and stimulus control.
Keywords
Alcohol use, behavior change, Processes of Change, Transtheoretical Model, self-assessment, cognitive strategies.
Items of ‘Processes of Change Questionnaire – Alcohol version’
40-item version:
1. I do something nice for myself for making efforts to change.
2. I can talk with at least one special person about my drinking experiences.
3. I get upset when I think about illnesses caused by drinking.
4. I see signs in some public places trying to help people not drink.
5. I stop to think about how my drinking is hurting people around me.
6. I consider that feeling good about myself includes changing my drinking behavior.
7. I remove things from my home or work that remind me of drinking.
8. I calm myself when I get the urge to drink.
9. I reward myself when I don’t give in to my urge to drink.
10. I have someone to talk with who understands my problems with alcohol.
11. Warnings about the health hazards of drinking have an emotional effect on me.
12. I use will power to stop from drinking.
13. I notice that people with alcohol problems are making known their desire not to be pressed to drink.
14. I am considering the idea that people around me would be better off without my problem drinking.
15. I read newspaper stories that may help me quit drinking.
16. I avoid situations that encourage me to drink.
17. I try to think about other things when I begin to think about drinking.
18. I have someone who listens when I want to talk about my drinking.
19. Stories about alcohol and its effects upset me.
20. I make myself aware that I can choose to overcome my drinking if I want to.
21. I find society changing in ways that make it easier for me to overcome my drinking problem.
22. I have strong feelings about how much my drinking has hurt the people I care about.
23. I become disappointed with myself when I depend on alcohol.
24. I look for information related to problem drinking.
25. I use reminders to help me not to drink.
26. I do something else instead of drinking when I need to deal with tension.
27. I don’t let myself have fun when I drink.
28. I have someone whom I can count on to help me when I’m having problems with drinking.
29. I read newspaper stories that can affect me emotionally about my drinking.
30. I tell myself that if I try hard enough I can keep from drinking.
31. I stop and think that my drinking is causing problems for other people.
32. I feel more competent when I decide not to drink.
33. I seek out groups of people who can increase my awareness about the problems of drinking.
34. I stay away from places generally associated with my drinking.
35. I find that doing things is a good substitute for drinking.
36. I spend time with people who reward me for not drinking.
37. I make commitments to myself not to drink.
38. I see advertisements on television about how society is trying to help people not drink.
39. I think about the type of person I will be if I control my drinking.
40. I think about information that people have personally given me on the benefits of quitting drinking.
20-item version:
1. I reward myself when I don’t give in to my urge to use drink.
2. I have someone to talk with who understands my problems with alcohol.
3. I get upset when I think about illnesses caused by drinking.
4. I am considering the idea that people around me would be better off without my problem drinking.
5. I read newspaper stories that may help me quit drinking.
6. I try to think about other things when I begin to think about drinking.
7. I find society changing in ways that make it easier for me to overcome my drinking problem.
8. I become disappointed with myself when I depend on alcohol.
9. I look for information related to problem drinking.
10. I use reminders to help me not to drink.
11. I have someone whom I can count on to help me when I’m having problems with drinking.
12. Stories about alcohol and its effects upset me.
13. I tell myself that if I try hard enough I can keep from drinking.
14. I stop to think about how my drinking is hurting people around me.
15. I feel more competent when I decide not to drink.
16. I stay away from places generally associated with my drinking.
17. I find that doing things is a good substitute for drinking.
18. I spend time with people who reward me for not drinking.
19. I make commitments to myself not to drink.
20. I see advertisements on television about how society is trying to help people not drink.
20-item version – DELTA PROJECT:
1. I get upset when I think about illnesses caused by drinking.
2. I stop to think about how my drinking is hurting people around me.
3. I reward myself when I don’t give in to my urge to drink too much.
4. I have someone to talk with who understands my problems with alcohol.
5. I am considering the idea that people around me would be better off without my problem drinking.
6. I read newspaper stories that may help me avoid drinking too much.
7. I try to think about other things when I begin to think about drinking.
8. Stories about alcohol and its effects upset me.
9. I find society changing in ways that make it easier for me to overcome my drinking problem.
10. I become disappointed with myself when I depend on alcohol.
11. I look for information related to problem drinking.
12. I use reminders to help me not to drink.
13. I have someone whom I can count on to help me when I’m having problems with drinking.
14. I tell myself that if I try hard enough I can keep from drinking.
15. I feel more competent when I decide not to drink.
16. I stay away from places generally associated with my drinking.
17. I find that doing things is a good substitute for drinking.
18. I spend time with people who reward me for not drinking.
19. I make commitments to myself not to drink.
20. I see advertisements on television about how society is trying to help people not drink.
References
http://habitslab.umbc.edu/processes-of-change-questionnaire/
Tejero, A., Trujols, J., Hernandez, E., Perez de los Cobos, J., & Casas, M. (1997). Processes of change assessment in heroin addicts following the Prochaska and DiClemente transtheoretical model. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 47, 31-37.
Prochaska, J.O., Velicer, W.F., DiClemente, C.C., & Fava, J.L. (1988). Measuring the process of change: Applications to the cessation of smoking. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 520-528.
VonSternberg, K. (2005). Comparing the factorial structure, invariance, and predictive validity of Transtheoretical model constructs for alcohol use across restricted and unrestricted settings. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 66, 3094.