Nicole Robinson1, David Kavanagh2, Jason Connor3, Jon May4, Jackie Andrade4. 1. Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia; Centre for Children's Health Research, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. 2. Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, School of Psychology & Counselling, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia; Centre for Children's Health Research, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. Electronic address: david.kavanagh@qut.edu.au. 3. Centre for Youth Substance Abuse, Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia. 4. School of Psychology, Cognition Institute, Plymouth University, United Kingdom.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire holds that desires for functional and dysfunctional goals share a common form. Both are embodied cognitive events, characterised by affective intensity and frequency. Accordingly, we developed scales to measure motivational cognitions for functional goals (Motivational Thought Frequency, MTF; State Motivation, SM), based on the existing Craving Experience Questionnaire (CEQ). When applied to increasing exercise, MTF and SM showed the same three-factor structure as the CEQ (Intensity, Imagery, Availability). The current study tested the internal structure and concurrent validity of the MTF and SM Scales when applied to control of alcohol consumption (MTF-A; SM-A). METHODS: Participants (N=417) were adult tertiary students, staff or community members who had recently engaged in high-risk drinking or were currently trying to control alcohol consumption. They completed an online survey comprising the MTF-A, SM-A, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ) and demographics. RESULTS: Confirmatory Factor Analysis gave acceptable fit for the MTF-A, but required the loss of one SM-A item, and was improved by intercorrelations of error terms. Higher scores were associated with more severe problems on the AUDIT and with higher Contemplation and Action scores on the RCQ. CONCLUSIONS: The MTF-A and SM-A show potential as measures of motivation to control drinking. Future research will examine their predictive validity and sensitivity to change. The scales' application to both increasing functional and decreasing dysfunctional behaviours is consistent with EI Theory's contention that both goal types operate in similar ways.
INTRODUCTION: The Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire holds that desires for functional and dysfunctional goals share a common form. Both are embodied cognitive events, characterised by affective intensity and frequency. Accordingly, we developed scales to measure motivational cognitions for functional goals (Motivational Thought Frequency, MTF; State Motivation, SM), based on the existing Craving Experience Questionnaire (CEQ). When applied to increasing exercise, MTF and SM showed the same three-factor structure as the CEQ (Intensity, Imagery, Availability). The current study tested the internal structure and concurrent validity of the MTF and SM Scales when applied to control of alcohol consumption (MTF-A; SM-A). METHODS:Participants (N=417) were adult tertiary students, staff or community members who had recently engaged in high-risk drinking or were currently trying to control alcohol consumption. They completed an online survey comprising the MTF-A, SM-A, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ) and demographics. RESULTS: Confirmatory Factor Analysis gave acceptable fit for the MTF-A, but required the loss of one SM-A item, and was improved by intercorrelations of error terms. Higher scores were associated with more severe problems on the AUDIT and with higher Contemplation and Action scores on the RCQ. CONCLUSIONS: The MTF-A and SM-A show potential as measures of motivation to control drinking. Future research will examine their predictive validity and sensitivity to change. The scales' application to both increasing functional and decreasing dysfunctional behaviours is consistent with EI Theory's contention that both goal types operate in similar ways.
Authors: Ashwin D Dhanda; Hannah Allende; Victoria Allgar; Jackie Andrade; Matthew Peter Bailey; Lynne Callaghan; Laura Cocking; Elizabeth Goodwin; Annie Hawton; Christopher Hayward; Ben Hudson; Alison Jeffery; Angela King; Victoria Lavers; Joe Lomax; C Anne McCune; Richard Parker; Christopher Rollinson; Jonny Wilks; E Siobhan Creanor Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-05-18 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Martina Di Simplicio; Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi; Paul Wilkinson; Peter Watson; Caroline Meiser-Stedman; David J Kavanagh; Emily A Holmes Journal: Suicide Life Threat Behav Date: 2020-02-14