Description

The Situational Temptations to Drink Scale is a 21-item self-report instrument that assesses the extent to which individuals may feel tempted to engage in excessive alcohol consumption under specific emotional and social conditions.

The instrument was developed within the framework of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change. It is based on the principle that temptation is not constant but varies according to the situation. Some individuals may be particularly vulnerable to peer pressure, whereas others may experience stronger temptation in response to negative emotions or social anxiety.

The measure is also referred to as the Alcohol Temptations Scale or the Situational Temptations Scale for Heavy, Episodic Drinking. The title Temptations to Drink Instrument [TTDI-21] may be used descriptively, although it is not the predominant name in the primary literature.

Purpose

The scale is designed to identify high-risk situations for excessive or heavy episodic alcohol consumption. It may be used to:

  • assess the overall intensity of temptation to drink,
  • identify personally significant drinking triggers,
  • examine differences between emotional and social risk situations,
  • investigate associations with drinking frequency and quantity,
  • support individualized prevention or intervention planning,
  • monitor changes during programs intended to reduce alcohol consumption.

The instrument assesses situation-specific temptation rather than general alcohol craving or confidence in one’s ability to resist drinking.

Subscales

The 21 items are organized into four dimensions:

Peer Pressure: Assesses temptation when other people are drinking heavily, offering alcohol, encouraging consumption, or pressuring the individual to match the group’s drinking behavior.

Negative Affect: Examines temptation arising during frustration, depression, anxiety, stress, anger, or emotional distress.

Positive and Social Situations: Assesses temptation during excitement, happiness, enjoyable interactions with friends, or generally positive circumstances.

Social Anxiety: Examines temptation associated with shyness, social discomfort, romantic interactions, and perceived pressure to become more socially outgoing.

The four dimensions may be analyzed separately or combined into a global index of situational temptation.

Scoring

Respondents rate how strongly they would feel tempted to drink heavily in each of the 21 situations. Responses are provided on a five-point scale:

  1. Not at all tempted
  2. Not very tempted
  3. Somewhat tempted
  4. Very tempted
  5. Extremely tempted

The total score is calculated by summing the 21 responses and ranges from 21 to 105. Higher scores indicate greater overall temptation to engage in excessive alcohol consumption across high-risk situations.

Separate subscale scores may also be calculated:

  • Peer Pressure: 8 items
  • Negative Affect: 5 items
  • Positive and Social Situations: 4 items
  • Social Anxiety: 4 items

No universally accepted clinical cut-off scores have been established. Scores should be interpreted comparatively, considering the distribution of the study sample, previous assessments of the same individual, and the characteristics of the reference population.

Short Forms

Two comparable eight-item short forms have been developed to assess global situational temptation. These versions may be useful when administration time is limited, although they do not provide the same detailed information regarding all types of high-risk situations.

Before using a short form, researchers should confirm that it is psychometrically appropriate for the target population.

Statistical Analysis

Analysis may include descriptive statistics for the total score and the four subscales. Internal consistency can be assessed using Cronbach’s alpha or McDonald’s omega.

The proposed structure may be examined through confirmatory factor analysis, including a hierarchical model with four specific factors and one general temptation factor. Measurement invariance should be assessed before comparing scores across demographic or cultural groups.

Associations with drinking frequency, heavy episodic consumption, self-efficacy, stages of change, and relapse may be examined using correlation, regression, or longitudinal models. Repeated-measures analyses or linear mixed-effects models may be employed in intervention studies.

Psychometric Properties

Research on the abbreviated measure has supported its four-dimensional structure and the combination of its subscales into a general situational temptation score. Evidence of internal consistency and external validity has also been reported in samples of college drinkers.

Nevertheless, its psychometric properties should be reassessed whenever the instrument is translated or administered to different age, cultural, or clinical populations.

Applications and Limitations

The original scale was developed primarily to investigate heavy episodic drinking among college students and individuals without established alcohol dependence. Its use with people diagnosed with alcohol use disorder therefore requires additional psychometric validation.

The instrument does not assess alcohol dependence, withdrawal symptoms, or the consequences of drinking. It should not be used as an independent diagnostic measure but alongside actual consumption indicators and validated alcohol-screening instruments.

References

Maddock, J. E., LaForge, R. G., & Rossi, J. S. (2000). Short form of a situational temptation scale for heavy, episodic drinking. Journal of Substance Abuse, 11(3), 281–288.

Migneault, J. P. (1995). A transtheoretical investigation of immoderate drinking in college [Doctoral dissertation, University of Rhode Island].

Migneault, J. P., Pallonen, U. E., & Velicer, W. F. (1997). Decisional balance and stage of change for adolescent drinking. Addictive Behaviors, 22(3), 339–351.

Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. American Psychologist, 47(9), 1102–1114.