Validation of a new instrument for assessing attitudes on psychedelics in the general population
Marija Franka Žuljević, Ivan Buljan, Mia Leskur, Mariano Kaliterna, Darko Hren, Darko Duplančić
Scientific Reports October 29, 2022 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23056-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,153 |
| Population | Croatian general population |
| Keywords | Population Data science Environmental health |
| Citations | 34 |
| Key findings | The Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (APQ) is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing attitudes toward psychedelics in the Croatian general population, with younger age, male gender, and lower educational status associated with higher scores. |
Abstract
Although there is research interest to assess attitudes on psychedelics, no validated instrument exists for this purpose. We aimed to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Attitudes on Psychedelics Questionnaire (APQ) in a sample of the Croatian general population. A cross-sectional, web-based survey among the general population was conducted on 1153 participants (62.1% female, 77.7% with a graduate or high school degree, 15.1% health care workers). We assessed participants' ability to recognize psychedelic substances using a short knowledge test. The APQ consists of 20 items with four sub-scales: Legal Use of Psychedelics, Effects of Psychedelics, Risk Assessment of Psychedelics, and Openness to Psychedelics. This model demonstrated best fit in a confirmatory factor analysis. Total scale reliability was excellent (McDonald's ω = 0.949, 95% CI = 0.944-0.953). A strong correlation with a similar unvalidated measure (r = 0.885, P < 0.001) demonstrated convergent validity. We observed an association between attitudes and knowledge on psychedelics (r = 0.494, P < 0.001). Younger age, male gender, and lower educational status were associated with higher APQ scores. The APQ is valid, reliable, and could be applied in assessing educational interventions, patients' treatment outcomes, and the attitudes of different groups of experts. We encourage further validation of the APQ in English.