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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Sep;23(3):464-71.
doi: 10.1037/a0015841.

A new decisional balance measure of motivation to change among at-risk college drinkers

Susan E Collins  1 , Kate B Carey, Jacqueline M Otto
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A new decisional balance measure of motivation to change among at-risk college drinkers

Susan E Collins et al. Psychol Addict Behav. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

In this study, an open-ended decisional balance worksheet was used to elicit self-generated pros and cons of current drinking and reducing drinking, which were then quantified to create a decisional balance proportion (DBP) reflecting movement toward change (i.e., counts of pros of reducing drinking and cons of current drinking to all decisional balance fields). This study's goal was to examine the convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of the DBP as a measure of motivation to change. Participants were college students (N = 143) who reported having engaged in weekly heavy, episodic drinking and who had participated in a larger randomized clinical trial of brief motivational interventions (K. B. Carey, M. P. Carey, S. A. Maisto, & J. M. Henson, 2006). Findings indicated partial support for convergent and discriminant validity of the DBP. Compared with Likert scale measures of decisional balance and readiness to change, DBP scores reflecting greater movement toward change best predicted reductions in heavy drinking quantity and frequency and experience of alcohol-related consequences, although some of these effects decayed by the 12-month follow-up. Findings suggest that the DBP is a valid measure of motivation to change among at-risk college drinkers.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Graph of mean quantity per heaviest drinking week by time point and level of change in DBP. The DBP change scores represent change in the DBP between baseline and the one-month follow-up. For clarity of presentation, groups were formed to represent different levels of change in the DBP. The stable DBP group in the figure is centered on the mean DBP change score (M = -.004, SD = .20) in this sample and includes difference scores ranging from -.20 to .20. These scores correspond to one SD below and one SD above the mean, respectively. The decreasing DBP group represents participants whose DBP change scores were at least one SD below the mean (DBP < -.20), and the increasing DBP group represents participants whose DBP change scores were at least one SD above the mean (DBP > .20).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graph of mean frequency per heaviest drinking week by time point and level of change in DBP.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graph of mean alcohol-related problems (RAPI score) by time point and level of change in DBP.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Collins SE, Carey KB. Lack of effect for decisional balance as a brief motivational intervention for at-risk college drinkers. Addictive Behaviors. 2005;30:1425–1430. - PMC - PubMed

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