Does smoking abstinence self-efficacy vary across situations? Identifying context-specificity within the relapse situation efficacy questionnaire

According to self-efficacy and relapse theories, abstinence self-efficacy ( ASE) ratings should be context-specific; they should vary across situations . This variability may be important, as it could signal high-risk for relap se situations. In this study, confirmatory factor analysis was used to iden tify situational variability in a novel ASE assessment (Relapse Situation E fficacy Questionnaire, or RSEQ). Results supported a hierarchical structure , where both context-specific and unidimensional measures of ASE exist with in the assessment. Context-specific factors included Negative Affect, Posit ive Affect. Restrictive Situations (to smoking). Idle Time. Social-Food Sit uations, Low Arousal, and Craving. Multiple context-specific factors and th e aggregate factor predicted cessation outcome. even after controlling for concurrent smoking rate. However. the context rated with the least confiden ce proved to be the best outcome predictor, suggesting the existence of "Ac hilles' heel" situations. These data indicate the internal and predictive v alidity of the RSEQ.