Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales

Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales used in psychology are essential tools for clinical and research assessments. This post is based on dissertations submitted by students during their academic programs. At ‘Mental Health,’ we arrange and provide these resources to you. Here is the complete list of resources (Click Here). To access these materials, click on the ‘Avail File’ section below.”

About Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales

Purpose of the Tool

The Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales (SSES) are designed to assess an individual’s confidence in their ability to resist smoking in various situations. Self-efficacy refers to the belief in one’s ability to execute behaviors necessary to achieve specific performance goals—in this case, maintaining smoking cessation. The scales are used to predict relapse and guide interventions in smoking cessation programs. They allow clinicians to identify areas where individuals feel less confident about resisting the temptation to smoke and to develop tailored strategies to address these vulnerabilities.

Background

Smoking addiction is influenced by multiple psychological, social, and behavioral factors, with self-efficacy playing a crucial role in whether an individual can successfully quit smoking. Self-efficacy determines how well a person handles temptations and challenges in their journey toward cessation. The Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales (SSES) are grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which highlights that the stronger a person’s belief in their ability to abstain from smoking, the more likely they are to succeed in quitting.

The SSES were developed as part of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change, also known as the Stages of Change Model, created by Prochaska and DiClemente. This model emphasizes the dynamic nature of behavior change, identifying different stages such as precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. The SSES help gauge a person’s readiness to quit smoking by measuring their perceived self-efficacy across these stages.

Tool Structure

The Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales include items that reflect common high-risk situations where a smoker might be tempted to relapse. These situations typically fall into three primary categories:

Negative Affect: This subscale assesses the smoker’s confidence in resisting the urge to smoke when experiencing negative emotions, such as stress, sadness, anger, or anxiety.
Positive Social Situations: This subscale evaluates how confident the smoker feels about abstaining from smoking in social gatherings or environments where smoking is socially accepted or encouraged, such as parties or social events.
Habitual or Routine Situations: This subscale looks at the smoker’s self-efficacy in situations tied to habitual or routine behaviors, such as having a coffee, after meals, or while driving.

Each item is rated on a Likert scale, typically ranging from 1 (Not at all confident) to 5 (Extremely confident). The higher the score, the more confident the individual is in their ability to refrain from smoking.

Key Features

Focus on Self-Efficacy: The tool measures self-efficacy, a crucial factor in whether individuals can resist the temptation to smoke. Higher self-efficacy is linked to higher success rates in smoking cessation.
Situational Analysis: It categorizes high-risk situations that often lead to smoking relapse, allowing clinicians to identify which areas need more attention.
Predictive Value: The scales are effective in predicting the likelihood of smoking relapse, providing insight into which individuals may require more intensive interventions.

Psychometric Properties

Reliability: The Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales have demonstrated strong internal consistency and reliability across various studies. The scales have consistently shown reliability coefficients above 0.80, making them a dependable tool for assessing smoking self-efficacy.

Validity: The scales have been validated through numerous studies that demonstrate their ability to predict smoking relapse. Individuals who score low on self-efficacy are significantly more likely to relapse compared to those with higher self-efficacy scores. Moreover, the scales align well with the Stages of Change framework, ensuring that they are relevant across various stages of smoking cessation.

The tool has also been validated across diverse populations, showing strong psychometric properties across age groups, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Applications

Clinical Interventions: The SSES are used by clinicians to assess a patient’s self-efficacy in quitting smoking and to develop personalized treatment plans that address specific areas of vulnerability.
Research: The tool is commonly used in research studies to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and smoking behavior. It helps identify key factors that contribute to successful smoking cessation and the prevention of relapse.
Behavior Change Programs: The SSES are used in smoking cessation programs to monitor progress, evaluate readiness to quit, and identify areas where individuals may need additional support.

Age Group

The Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales (SSES) are designed for adults aged 18 and older who are either attempting to quit smoking or considering quitting. It is particularly useful for individuals who have made multiple attempts to quit or who struggle with relapse after periods of abstinence.

References

DiClemente, C. C., Prochaska, J. O., & Gibertini, M. (1985). Self-Efficacy and the Stages of Self-Change of Smoking. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9(2), 181-200.
DiClemente, C. C. (1986). Self-Efficacy and the addictive behaviors. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 4, 302-315.
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.
Velicer, W. F., DiClemente, C. C., Rossi, J. S., & Prochaska, J. O. (1990). Relapse situations and self-efficacy: An integrative model. Addictive Behaviors, 15, 271-283.
DiClemente, C. C., Fairhurst, S. K., & Piotrowski, N. A. (1995). Self-Efficacy and addictive behaviors. In J. E. Maddux (Ed.), Self-Efficacy, adaptation, and adjustment: Theory, research, and application (pp. 109-141). New York: Plenum.
Perz, C. A., DiClemente, C. C., & Carbonari, J. P. (1996). Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time? The Interaction of Stages and Processes of Change in Successful Smoking Cessation. Health Psychology, 15(6), 462-468.
DiClemente, C. C., & Haug, N. (2001). Smoking Cessation: Helping Patients through the Process. Journal of COPD Management, 2(4), 4-9.
Delahanty, J. C., DiClemente, C. C., Havas, S., & Langenberg, P. (2008). Smoking status and stages of change for dietary behaviors among WIC women. American Journal of Health Behavior, 32(6), 583-593.

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Smoking Self-Efficacy Scales