Scale Overview
The Affirmative Behaviors with All Clients Scale – ABACS was developed by Kathleen J. Bieschke & Connie R. Matthews (2003). It is designed to measure Affirmative counseling behaviors with LGB clients. The scale is intended for use with Counselors and mental health professionals.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 8 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 8 to 56. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Affirmative Behaviors: 8 – 24
- Moderate Affirmative Behaviors: 25 – 40
- High Affirmative Behaviors: 41 – 56
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.