Smoking Decisional Balance Scales

Smoking Decisional Balance Scales

Smoking Decisional Balance 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.”

Smoking Decisional Balance Scales
Smoking Decisional Balance Scales

About Smoking Decisional Balance Scales

The Smoking Decisional Balance Scales is a psychological tool designed to assess the pros and cons of smoking behavior. It is based on the Decisional Balance construct from the transtheoretical model of behavior change, helping individuals and clinicians weigh the perceived benefits and drawbacks of smoking. This scale is particularly useful in smoking cessation programs, providing insights into the individual’s readiness to quit and guiding interventions.

Purpose of the Tool

The Smoking Decisional Balance Scales aims to:

  • Assess Smoking Attitudes: Identify the perceived advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) of smoking from the individual’s perspective.
  • Predict Behavior Change: Evaluate the individual’s motivation and readiness to quit smoking.
  • Guide Interventions: Assist clinicians in developing personalized smoking cessation strategies based on the individual’s decisional balance.

Description of the Tool

Developed by Velicer, DiClemente, and Prochaska (1985), the Smoking Decisional Balance Scales consists of two subscales: Pros of Smoking and Cons of Smoking. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where respondents indicate the extent to which they agree or disagree with each statement. Higher scores on the Pros subscale reflect stronger perceived benefits of smoking, while higher scores on the Cons subscale indicate greater awareness of the negative consequences of smoking.

The tool’s psychometric properties, including reliability and validity, have been supported by extensive research. It has been widely used in clinical settings to assess an individual’s ambivalence towards smoking and to predict their likelihood of quitting.

Age Group

The Smoking Decisional Balance Scales is designed for adults and adolescents aged 18 and above who are smokers or are considering quitting smoking.

References

Velicer, W.F., DiClemente, C.C., & 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.

Avail the File

If you would like to learn more about the Smoking Decisional Balance Scales or access it for research or clinical purposes, please reach out through our Contact Us page. At ‘Mental Health,’ we are committed to providing access to reliable assessment tools to enhance research and intervention efforts.

Follow Us:

Reference File: Addiction-A16

Disclaimer

Please be aware that MentalHealth.com.pk does not hold the rights to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales, questionnaires, or inventories listed on its website. If you wish to use any of the scales, questionnaires, or inventories featured on our site, it is your responsibility to obtain permission directly from the author, translator, or publisher of the respective tool.

MentalHealth.com.pk provides information about various assessment measures and their administration procedures for educational purposes only. We do not endorse or claim ownership of any of the tools mentioned. We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information to our readers, but we cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information presented.

If you require further information or need assistance in contacting an author or obtaining permissions, please feel free to reach out to our team. We are here to assist you with any inquiries you may have.