An Examination of Alcohol Treatment Seeking Self-Efficacy in a Multi-Site Sample of Hispanic College Students

Treatment seeking self-efficacy (TSSE), or the perceived ability to seek and find treatment for alcohol misuse, may be contributing to the alcohol treatment gap, but no measure of TSSE exists. The current study examined Hispanic college students’ TSSE by investigating the psychometric properties and correlates of a new scale that assesses Hispanic college students’ TSSE across eight college campuses in the United States (N = 2,425). The Alcohol Treatment Seeking Self-Efficacy Scale (ATSSES) and measures to assess alcohol-related outcomes were administered, and correlates of the ATSSES were assessed. A unidimensional factor structure of the ATSSES was observed, and the ATSSES exhibited excellent reliability. The ATSSES was positively correlated with protective behavioral strategy use and negatively correlated with consequences, USAUDIT, drinking identity, depression, anxiety, coping motives, and conformity motives. Non-treatment receivers who reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking were also found to report statistically lower levels of ATSSE.