Scales measuring psychosocial antecedents of coital initiation among adolescents in a rural southern state.
The psychometric properties of psychosexual scales designed to examine intentions toward sexual intercourse were examined. Participants from 22 schools in central Alabama provided data on demographics, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions toward sexual intercourse. Theoretical constructs from Theory of Reasoned Action and Social Cognitive Theory guided the development of items assessing psychosocial aspects of sexual intercourse. Findings indicated that approximately half of the conceptual items (13 items) loaded on four factors. The four scales were (a) Coital Intentions, (b) Attitudes toward Negative Sexual Outcomes, (c) Social Norms toward Premature Sex, and (d) Self-efficacy of Sexual Refusal Skills. These factors showed adequate independence and explained 46% of the variance in the data. Cronbach alpha ranged from .69 to .78. Scales show acceptable evidence for evaluation; however, additional research from other geographical districts and other ethnic groups is needed to confirm their generalizability.
Nagy
Stephen
S
Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487-0311, USA. Snagy@ches.ua.edu
Watts
Graham F
GF
Nagy
M Christine
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000407:Alabama; D001242:Assertiveness; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012424:Rural Population; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012746:Sexual Abstinence