Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Development and examination of the attribution questionnaire-substance use disorder (AQ-SUD) to measure public stigma towards adolescents experiencing substance use disorders.

Johnson-Kwochka A, Aalsma MC, Monahan PO, Salyers MP. Development and examination of the attribution questionnaire-substance use disorder (AQ-SUD) to measure public stigma towards adolescents experiencing substance use disorders. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2021 Apr 1; 221:108600.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Public stigma may significantly impact adolescents with substance use disorders (SUDs), leading to limited treatment accessibility and utilization. However, few measures have been validated to assess public SUD stigma towards adolescents. In this study we developed the Attribution Questionnaire-Substance Use Disorder (AQ-SUD) by modifying the Attribution Questionnaire, a commonly used measure of public mental illness stigma. We examined 1) the psychometric properties of the AQ-SUD with supporting data from other stigma scales and 2) preliminary data on adults' perceptions of public stigma toward adolescents with SUDs. METHODS: Adult participants (n = 304) were randomly assigned to one of four vignettes about an adolescent with a specific SUD diagnosis (opioid, marijuana, alcohol, and stimulant use disorders). Participants completed the AQ-SUD and three other measures of public stigma designed to assess convergent and divergent validity. RESULTS: Analyses indicated that the modified AQ-SUD has good psychometric properties, and revealed a four-factor structure: negative emotions, assessment of responsibility, social disengagement, and lack of empathy. Additional public stigma scales demonstrated good psychometrics and provided evidence of both convergent and divergent validity for the AQ-SUD. Preliminary analysis of public stigma towards adolescents with a SUD suggests that attitudes about marijuana use disorder differ significantly from attitudes about other SUDs. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to modify and validate a measure designed to assess perceptions of public SUD stigma towards adolescents, the AQ-SUD. Preliminary analyses suggest that adults view adolescent marijuana use disorders as less severe compared to other SUDs, which may have implications for adults' motivation to support youth in seeking treatment.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.