Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire (ARCQ)

Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire (ARCQ) 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 Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire (ARCQ)

The Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire (ARCQ) is a psychological assessment tool designed to measure the coping strategies used by adolescents who are recovering from substance abuse. This tool plays a critical role in understanding the risk of relapse and the behavioral patterns that contribute to relapse situations among adolescents after they have undergone treatment.

Introduction

Substance abuse treatment for adolescents is a highly challenging domain, given the developmental and psychological factors unique to this age group. Relapse is a common phenomenon, and understanding how adolescents cope with stressors and relapse risk situations is crucial for long-term recovery. The Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire (ARCQ) serves as a significant tool to assess these coping mechanisms, providing insights into how young individuals manage their recovery journey.

Developed by Mark Myers in 1990 and revised in 1994, the ARCQ offers a detailed approach to evaluating how adolescents respond to high-risk situations that may trigger relapse. It also examines the effectiveness of their coping strategies and how these responses can influence the outcomes of their substance abuse treatment.

Purpose of the ARCQ

The ARCQ was developed with the goal of identifying the coping mechanisms that adolescents use when faced with challenges in their recovery process. The tool provides clinicians with data on the cognitive and behavioral responses of adolescents in different high-risk situations. This information allows for the development of personalized intervention strategies aimed at enhancing coping mechanisms and reducing the likelihood of relapse.

Psychometric Validation

Myers and Brown (1996) conducted the psychometric validation of the ARCQ, demonstrating its reliability and validity as a tool for assessing coping responses among adolescents. The ARCQ has been shown to predict treatment outcomes, highlighting the significant role of coping strategies in adolescent substance abuse recovery.

Key Features of the ARCQ

Coping Categories: The ARCQ categorizes coping strategies into different dimensions, such as cognitive-behavioral strategies and emotional coping. This helps in identifying the specific type of coping style an adolescent predominantly uses.
Relapse Risk Situations: The questionnaire assesses the ability of adolescents to handle relapse risk situations, offering valuable insight into how well they manage recovery challenges.
Predictive Value: Research has shown that coping responses measured by the ARCQ can predict the likelihood of relapse, making it a powerful tool for early intervention.
Treatment Planning: By identifying maladaptive coping mechanisms, the ARCQ assists clinicians in formulating more effective treatment and support plans tailored to the individual needs of each adolescent.

Examples of ARCQ Use

In practical settings, the ARCQ is used in various adolescent substance abuse treatment programs. Clinicians often administer the questionnaire at different stages of recovery to monitor progress and adapt therapeutic interventions.

For example, an adolescent who scores high on emotional coping strategies may benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to build resilience in high-risk situations. Similarly, an adolescent who struggles with social pressures might be given specific interventions to improve peer-related coping skills.

Scoring and Interpretation

The ARCQ provides a quantitative measure of different coping styles. Clinicians use these scores to identify patterns in the adolescent’s behavior and to make informed decisions about the treatment strategies that will best support long-term recovery. The scale allows for easy comparison of coping mechanisms before and after treatment, helping to track the individual’s improvement over time.

References

Myers, M.G., & Brown, S.A. (1996). The Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire: Psychometric validation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 57, 40-46.
Myers, M.G., & Brown, S.A. (1990). Coping responses and relapse among adolescent substance abusers. Journal of Substance Abuse, 2, 177-189.
Myers, M.G., Brown, S.A., & Mott, M.A. (1993). Coping as a predictor of adolescent substance abuse treatment outcome. Journal of Substance Abuse, 5, 15-29.

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Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire (ARCQ)