This study investigated factors accounting for variance in beliefs among addiction-treatment providers regarding the etiology of addiction (N=295). A survey was mailed to members of three national treatmentprovider organizations. The 18-item Addiction Belief Scale (ABS) assessed strength of belief in the disease versus free-will model of addiction (a==.91).Seo.res on an eight-item Spiritual Belief Scale assessing spiritual thinking based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) philosophy (a=.92), the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales, and demographic questions were used to predict scores on the ABS.
An eighteen-item Addiction Belief Scale (ABS) was developed to assess strength of belief in the disease versus free-will model of addiction (alpha = .91). Factor analysis of the ABS revealed three dimensions to the disease-model controversy of addiction. These include beliefs regarding personal power (subscale alpha = .91, n = 274), dichotomous thinking (subscale alpha = .83, n = 285), and addiction as a way of coping with life (subscale alpha = .47, n = 286). A discussion of scale analysis and suggestions for application of the ABS as a clinical and research instrument are presented.
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