Development and validation of the Cannabis Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (CRSEQ) in adult cannabis users in treatment

Abstract

Background: There are few valid clinical assessment instruments for cannabis. SelfEfficacy, or the ability of users to resist temptation, is a central feature of social cognitive theory. This study outlines the development and validation of the Cannabis Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (CRSEQ), which measures the situational confidence to refuse cannabis. Method: One thousand two hundred and forty-six patients referred for cannabis assessment completed the CRSEQ including measures of cannabis consumption and dependence severity (Severity of Dependence ScaleCannabis, SDS-C). The CRSEQ was subject to independent exploratory (n= 621, mean age 26.88, 78.6% male) and confirmatory (n= 625, mean age 27.51, 76.8% male) factor analysis. Results: Three factors: Emotional Relief, Opportunistic and Social Facilitation were identified. They provided a good statistical and conceptual fit for the data. Emotional Relief cannabis refusal self-efficacy was identified as most predictive of cannabis dependence, after controlling for cannabis consumption. Conclusions:The CRSEQ is recommended as a psychometrically sound and clinically useful measure for cannabis misuse treatment planning and assessment.

Social cognitive predictors of treatment outcome in cannabis dependence

“…The factor structure and criterion validity of the CEQ has been confirmed across two samples . Young et al, 2012). The 14-item CRSEQ measured levels of cannabis refusal self-efficacy.…”

“…Young et al (2012) developed the Cannabis Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (CRSEQ), a theoretically-driven and psychometrically robust assessment of self-efficacy. The measure assesses situational confidence to refuse cannabis consumption for emotional relief, social facilitation, and opportunistically.…”

Treatment seeking in cannabis dependence: The role of social cognition

“…It comprises three subscales: Emotional Relief (six items, e.g., 'When I feel sad'), Opportunistic (five items, e.g., 'When someone offers me a smoke') and Social Facilitation (three items, e.g., 'When I want to feel more accepted by friends'). Internal consistency of the CRSEQ is good-to-excellent (=0.84-0.97) and the three-factor structure and criterion validity has been established in clinical samples (Young et al, 2012). Gossop et al, 1995).…”

“…Participants attend as an alternative to criminal prosecution. The current study includes only new cases that have not been previously analyzed (Connor et al, 2014(Connor et al, , 2011Young et al, 2012). Human research ethics approval was obtained.…”

“…The two subscales have excellent internal consistency (≥ 0.90) and the CEQ's two-factor structure and criterion validity have been confirmed in clinical samples (Connor et al, 2011). Young et al, 2012). The 14-item CRSEQ assessed cannabis refusal self-efficacy.…”