Situation Temptation Scales – Drug Version (STS-D)
Measures the degree to which an individual feels tempted to use drugs in various high-risk situations.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Situation Temptation Scales – Drug Version (STS-D) was developed by Velicer, W. F., DiClemente, C. C., Rossi, J. S., & Prochaska, J. O. (1990). It is designed to measure Drug use temptation and relapse self-efficacy. The scale is intended for use with Individuals with a history of drug use or in substance use treatment.
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 – 39
- Moderate Temptation: 40 – 59
- High Temptation: 60 – 79
- Very High Temptation: 80 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Negative Affect (.90), Social/Positive (.87), Physical and Other Concerns (.72), Withdrawal/Urges (.83).
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.