Abstract We investigated the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the 10-item Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (QSU-Brief) in a Dutch smokers sample (N = 208). The questionnaire displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alphas > 0.83), and scores were strongly correlated with three other rating scales for measuring craving, urge, and desire for cigarettes, and moderately linked to questionnaires that tap related constructs, such as cigarette dependence. As in previous research, a two factor structure was revealed. The first factor was best described by ‘the relief from nicotine withdrawal or negative affect with an urgent and overwhelming desire to smoke’, and appeared to be associated with negative affect, but not with positive affect. The second factor reflected ‘the desire and intention to smoke’, and was neither associated with positive nor negative affect. The factor structure, however, slightly deviates from the original, English version of the QSU-Brief, which might be explained by language differences. Overall, the Dutch translation of the QSU-Brief offers a reliable, valid, and multidimensional assessment of cigarette craving and appears suitable for use in a general population of young, Dutch adults.

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hdl.handle.net/1765/22715
Netherlands Journal of Psychology
Department of Psychology

Littel, M., Franken, I., & Muris, P. (2011). Psychometric properties of the brief Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (QSU-Brief) in a Dutch smoker population. Netherlands Journal of Psychology, 1–20. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/22715