Motivational profiles of adult males in the precontemplation stage of change for alcohol dependence

This study tested a practical approach for measuring variance among polyproblem alcohol dependent individuals who appear to be in the precontemplation stage of change (DiClemente & Prochaska, 1982) for alcohol dependence. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI, McLellan, Luborsky, Woody, & O'Brien, 1980), Fifth Edition (McLellan et al., 1992) and a newly developed scale, based on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) (McConnaughy, Prochaska, & Velicer 1983), was used to identify and describe subtypes within the precontemplation stage of change. The scores from the URICA were subjected to cluster analysis. The results were then used to examine the between-group (cluster) variance and correlations in terms of theory, research, and application, with specific emphasis on the precontemplation profiles. Another set of steps after the initial procedural replication allowed the reassignment of misclassified cases. This decreased the well-known subjectivity associated with cluster analysis (Alenderfer & Blashfield, 1984) by restricting the range of parameters allowed to determine the optimal number of clusters and their interpretation. The range of solutions examined allowed for the reclassification of cases while retaining the mathematical integrity of the model and adhering to the theoretical foundations of the study. Overall results provide new evidence for statistically significant readiness profiles within the precontemplation stage of change. There was statistically significant between-group variance using the newly developed scale. The resistant and resigned subscales within the new scale were highly correlated (positive) with the precontemplation scale on the URICA allowing for greater distinction within the precontemplation group. While there were no statistically significant correlations found between the ASI composite scores and the URICA cluster profiles, the notion that significant between-group variances exist based on problems in other biopsychosocial domains should not be abandoned. The ASI is a standardized tool designed for a different purpose. This fact may have contributed to a non-significant finding for this portion of the study. A new metric designed specifically for use in describing the biopsychosocial variance between readiness (stage of change) profiles may be more effective.