Attitudes toward sexual partner concurrency: development and evaluation of a brief, self-report measure for field research.
The purpose of this study was to develop a brief, reliable, and valid self-report measure of attitudes toward sexual partner concurrency. Focus groups, conducted with 59 participants, yielded 26 common attitudes. STD clinic patients (n = 370) reported their sexual risk history, and rated the 26 attitude statements. This sample was randomly divided into two subsamples, with some participants completing the items on two occasions (separated by 3 months) to evaluate test-retest reliability. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a one-factor model. The final scale consisted of 10 items, with higher scores reflecting more positive attitudes toward sexual partner concurrency. This scale is internally consistent (α = 0.92) and stable over time (3-month retest ICC = 0.82), with a factor structure that is equivalent for men and women. Evidence of validity was also obtained by confirming hypothesized correlations with sexual risk history. Continued research is needed to confirm the usefulness of this measure as an antecedent of sexual risk behavior.
Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Michael_Carey@brown.edu
Michael P
MP
Carey
Lori A J
LA
Scott-Sheldon
Theresa E
TE
Senn
Kate B
KB
Carey
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires