Purpose. This study examines the construct validity of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for Adolescents (SASSI-A) as a substance-abuse screening instrument for dual-diagnosed adolescents in a residential treatment center.
Method. Using archival records of 336 subjects from a long-term residential treatment center, this study applied a two-group comparison method to examine the construct validity of the SASSI-A for screening substance abuse among adolescents in a residential treatment center. Residents were initially clinically assessed by a state certified counselor as either substance abuser/chemically dependent or non-substance abuser/chemically dependent. At this residential treatment center, the clinical assessment included a full review of the resident's clinical and medical file, consult with the resident's family if possible, welfare and/or probation staff, the primary therapist and other residential staff, and an assessment interview. Scale scores and decision rules for the SASSI-A were then compared to the classification by clinical assessment. Underlying structure of the SASSI-A was also examined through principal component analysis.
Results. Independent t tests for the SASSI-A subscales scores showed significant differences in the mean scores between those clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent and those who were not. Those who were classified as chemically dependent using SASSI-A Decision Rules #1, #2, #3, and #4 were also likely to be clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent. For this sample, there was insufficient remaining subjects to test the utility of Decision Rules #5 and #6. Classification by clinical assessment and by SASSI-A was unrelated to demographic variables. In comparing the end results of the SASSI-A Decision Rules classification versus the results of those clinically assessed, there was an overall classification agreement of 78.6%. Principle component analysis with varimax rotation resulted in three meaningful underlying factors.
Conclusions. Compared to classification by clinical assessment, the SASSI-A appears to be a valid screening instrument for identifying substance abuse/chemical dependency among adolescents in a residential treatment center.
","abstract_html":"<p>Purpose. This study examines the construct validity of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for Adolescents (SASSI-A) as a substance-abuse screening instrument for dual-diagnosed adolescents in a residential treatment center.</p> <p>Method. Using archival records of 336 subjects from a long-term residential treatment center, this study applied a two-group comparison method to examine the construct validity of the SASSI-A for screening substance abuse among adolescents in a residential treatment center. Residents were initially clinically assessed by a state certified counselor as either substance abuser/chemically dependent or non-substance abuser/chemically dependent. At this residential treatment center, the clinical assessment included a full review of the resident's clinical and medical file, consult with the resident's family if possible, welfare and/or probation staff, the primary therapist and other residential staff, and an assessment interview. Scale scores and decision rules for the SASSI-A were then compared to the classification by clinical assessment. Underlying structure of the SASSI-A was also examined through principal component analysis.</p> <p>Results. Independent t tests for the SASSI-A subscales scores showed significant differences in the mean scores between those clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent and those who were not. Those who were classified as chemically dependent using SASSI-A Decision Rules #1, #2, #3, and #4 were also likely to be clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent. For this sample, there was insufficient remaining subjects to test the utility of Decision Rules #5 and #6. Classification by clinical assessment and by SASSI-A was unrelated to demographic variables. In comparing the end results of the SASSI-A Decision Rules classification versus the results of those clinically assessed, there was an overall classification agreement of 78.6%. Principle component analysis with varimax rotation resulted in three meaningful underlying factors.</p> <p>Conclusions. Compared to classification by clinical assessment, the SASSI-A appears to be a valid screening instrument for identifying substance abuse/chemical dependency among adolescents in a residential treatment center.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Singler, Ann Carol"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Counseling Psychology, Ph.D.","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jimmy Kijai","Duane C. McBride","Dennis Waite"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2004,"date_issued":"2004-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2004-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T00:53:07Z","subjects":["Mental and Social Health","Substance Abuse and Addiction"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/700","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jimmy Kijai","Duane C. McBride","Dennis Waite"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Singler, Ann Carol"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Counseling Psychology, Ph.D."]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Mental and Social Health","Substance Abuse and Addiction"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/700"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Purpose. This study examines the construct validity of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for Adolescents (SASSI-A) as a substance-abuse screening instrument for dual-diagnosed adolescents in a residential treatment center.
Method. Using archival records of 336 subjects from a long-term residential treatment center, this study applied a two-group comparison method to examine the construct validity of the SASSI-A for screening substance abuse among adolescents in a residential treatment center. Residents were initially clinically assessed by a state certified counselor as either substance abuser/chemically dependent or non-substance abuser/chemically dependent. At this residential treatment center, the clinical assessment included a full review of the resident's clinical and medical file, consult with the resident's family if possible, welfare and/or probation staff, the primary therapist and other residential staff, and an assessment interview. Scale scores and decision rules for the SASSI-A were then compared to the classification by clinical assessment. Underlying structure of the SASSI-A was also examined through principal component analysis.
Results. Independent t tests for the SASSI-A subscales scores showed significant differences in the mean scores between those clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent and those who were not. Those who were classified as chemically dependent using SASSI-A Decision Rules #1, #2, #3, and #4 were also likely to be clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent. For this sample, there was insufficient remaining subjects to test the utility of Decision Rules #5 and #6. Classification by clinical assessment and by SASSI-A was unrelated to demographic variables. In comparing the end results of the SASSI-A Decision Rules classification versus the results of those clinically assessed, there was an overall classification agreement of 78.6%. Principle component analysis with varimax rotation resulted in three meaningful underlying factors.
Conclusions. Compared to classification by clinical assessment, the SASSI-A appears to be a valid screening instrument for identifying substance abuse/chemical dependency among adolescents in a residential treatment center.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Validating the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for Identifying Substance Abuse Among Adolescents in a Residential Treatment Center"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jimmy Kijai","Duane C. McBride","Dennis Waite"],"dc:creator":["Singler, Ann Carol"],"dc:description.abstract":["Purpose. This study examines the construct validity of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for Adolescents (SASSI-A) as a substance-abuse screening instrument for dual-diagnosed adolescents in a residential treatment center.
Method. Using archival records of 336 subjects from a long-term residential treatment center, this study applied a two-group comparison method to examine the construct validity of the SASSI-A for screening substance abuse among adolescents in a residential treatment center. Residents were initially clinically assessed by a state certified counselor as either substance abuser/chemically dependent or non-substance abuser/chemically dependent. At this residential treatment center, the clinical assessment included a full review of the resident's clinical and medical file, consult with the resident's family if possible, welfare and/or probation staff, the primary therapist and other residential staff, and an assessment interview. Scale scores and decision rules for the SASSI-A were then compared to the classification by clinical assessment. Underlying structure of the SASSI-A was also examined through principal component analysis.
Results. Independent t tests for the SASSI-A subscales scores showed significant differences in the mean scores between those clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent and those who were not. Those who were classified as chemically dependent using SASSI-A Decision Rules #1, #2, #3, and #4 were also likely to be clinically assessed as substance abuser/chemically dependent. For this sample, there was insufficient remaining subjects to test the utility of Decision Rules #5 and #6. Classification by clinical assessment and by SASSI-A was unrelated to demographic variables. In comparing the end results of the SASSI-A Decision Rules classification versus the results of those clinically assessed, there was an overall classification agreement of 78.6%. Principle component analysis with varimax rotation resulted in three meaningful underlying factors.
Conclusions. Compared to classification by clinical assessment, the SASSI-A appears to be a valid screening instrument for identifying substance abuse/chemical dependency among adolescents in a residential treatment center.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/700"],"dc:subject":["Mental and Social Health","Substance Abuse and Addiction"],"dc:title":["Validating the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory for Identifying Substance Abuse Among Adolescents in a Residential Treatment Center"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Counseling Psychology, Ph.D."],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T00:53:07Z"}