Situation Temptation Scales – Alcohol Version (STS-A)
Measures the level of temptation to drink alcohol across various high-risk situations.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Situation Temptation Scales – Alcohol Version (STS-A) was developed by Carlo C. DiClemente, Joseph P. Carbonari, Richard P. G. Montgomery (1994). It is designed to measure Alcohol drinking temptation. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Negative Affect, Social/Positive, Physical and Other Concerns, Cravings and Urges.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Negative Affect | 3,6,14,16,18 | 5 |
| Social/Positive | 4,8,15,17,20 | 5 |
| Physical and Other Concerns | 2,5,9,12,13 | 5 |
| Cravings and Urges | 1,7,10,11,19 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all tempted, 2 = Not very tempted, 3 = Moderately tempted, 4 = Very tempted, 5 = Extremely tempted.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Temptation: 20 – 45
- Moderate Temptation: 46 – 75
- High Temptation: 76 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Negative Affect (α = .81-.99), Social/Positive (α = .75-.86), Physical and Other Concerns (α = .60-.63), Cravings and Urges (α = .70).
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.