Fw. Willoughby et Jf. Edens, CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY AND PREDICTIVE UTILITY OF THE STAGES OF CHANGE SCALE FOR ALCOHOLICS, Journal of substance abuse, 8(3), 1996, pp. 275-291
Recent theory and research suggest that the process of changing addict
ive behaviors may be conceptualized as a stage phenomenon consisting o
f precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenanc
e stages. Accurately assessing motivation or commitment to change seem
s to be a crucial step in matching patients to appropriate interventio
ns. Using the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URIC
A; McConnaughy, Prochaska, & Velicer, 1983), previous research has ide
ntified subtypes of outpatient alcoholics based on their attitude towa
rd each of the stages of change. Profiles derived for each subtype rou
ghly corresponded to one of the specific stages of change. The goals o
f this study were to determine if similar groups could be identified f
or patients receiving substance abuse treatment in a residential setti
ng and to examine whether these groups would differ on other theoretic
ally relevant variables. Stage of change scale scores for 141 patients
entering an alcohol treatment program at a VA domiciliary were submit
ted to a hierarchical cluster analysis. A two-cluster solution appeare
d to fit the data best, with group means suggesting the existence of p
recontemplation and contemplation/action stage groups in this populati
on. The two dusters did not differ on demographic variables, biochemic
al markers of alcohol consumption, or self-reported awareness of alcoh
ol-related problems. However, participants in the precontemplation clu
ster reported being less worried about their use, less receptive to he
lp, and having sought out help fewer rimes in the past Participants in
the contemplation/action cluster also reported greater symptoms of de
pression and anxiety. Preliminary treatment outcome data for each grou
p are presented, as well as suggestions for treatment matching. Result
s suggest that the URICA can be used to identify clinically meaningful
subtypes of treatment seeking alcoholics.