Estimación de las propiedades psicométricas del instrumento de medición de adicción al sexo (MAS)

Introducción: El instrumento MAS, una prueba para evaluar adicción al sexo, ha presentado inconvenientes en el nivel factorial. Por esto, esta investigación buscó estimar las propiedades psicométricas de dicho instrumento, en población colombiana. Método: Inicialmente, se realizó un juicio de expertos para establecer la validez de contenido, a través de la V de Aiken; luego se aplicó el MAS y la escala de inhibición/excitación sexual (SIS/ SES) a 337 participantes, por medio de un formulario web (Google forms), de los cuales 312 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión (221 mujeres y 91 hombres) con edades en el rango 18-65 años (x_ = 28.49, DE = 9.77). Mediante SPSS, se calculó el alfa de Cronbach, la correlación de Pearson y se hizo un análisis factorial con rotación Varimax. Resultados: Los análisis reflejaron una buena confiabilidad, una correlación ajustada a lo esperado, en relación con la prueba SIS/SES y el análisis factorial arrojó seis factores que presentan diferencias en comparación con la prueba planteada inicialmente. Conclusión: La prueba MAS presenta un adecuado nivel de confiabilidad, pero no cuenta con una validez de constructo adecuada.

Introduction: The MAS instrument, a test to assess sex addiction, has presented drawbacks at the factorial level. For this reason, this research sought to estimate the psychometric properties of the sex addiction measurement instrument (MAS) in Colombian population. Method: Initially, an expert judgment was carried out to establish the validity of content through Aiken's V, then the MAS and the sexual inhibition/arousal scale (SIS/SES) were applied to 337 participants through a form web (Google forms) of which 312 met the inclusion criteria (221 women and 91 men) aged between 18 and 65 years (x_ = 28.49, SD = 9.77). Using SPSS, Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation, and a factorial analysis with Varimax rotation were calculated. Results: The analyzes showed a good reliability, a correlation adjusted to what was expected in relation to the SIS/SES test and the factorial analysis showed six factors that present differences in comparison with the initially proposed test. Conclusion: The sex addiction measurement test (MAS) has an adequate level of reliability, but does not have adequate construct validity.

Effects of a Sexual Risk-Reduction Intervention for Teenagers: A Cluster-Randomized Control Trial.

This study evaluated the efficacy of the COMPAS program in the short term and 6 months after its application. For the initial sample, 2047 teenagers aged 14-19 years from 14 schools in 11 Colombian cities participated; eight schools were randomly assigned to the experimental condition and six to the control group. The participants completed self-report assessments that evaluated several variables theoretically associated with protective sexual behaviors. In the short term, the experimental group showed increased knowledge about HIV and other STIs, sexual assertiveness, self-efficacy, greater behavioral intention toward condom use, and more favorable attitudes toward HIV and condom use than the control group. After 6 months, most psychological and health variables also showed a significant positive change. In conclusion, the COMPAS program is the first school-based sexuality education program that has been shown to be effective in reducing mediating and behavioral variables associated with sexual risk reduction in Colombia.

RESUMEN: Este estudio evaluó la eficacia del programa COMPAS a corto plazo y a 6 meses después de la aplicación. Para la muestra inicial participaron 2.047 adolescentes de 14 a 19 años provenientes de 12 escuelas en 11 ciudades colombianas; 8 escuelas fueron aleatoriamente asignadas a la condición experimental y 6 al grupo control. Los participantes completaron autoinformes sobre variables teóricamente asociadas con comportamientos sexuales de protección. A corto plazo, el grupo experimental mostró un mayor conocimiento sobre ITS, asertividad sexual, autoeficacia e intención conductual hacia el uso del condón y actitudes más favorables hacia el VIH que el grupo de control. Después de seis meses, la mayoría de las variables psicológicas y de salud también mostraron un cambio positivo. En conclusión, el programa COMPAS es el primer programa de educación sexual que ha demostrado ser efectivo para reducir las variables mediadoras y conductuales asociadas con la reducción del riesgo sexual en Colombia.

Psychometric Properties of the Colombian Version of the HIV Attitudes Scale for Adolescents.

The HIV Attitudes Scale (HIV-AS) evaluates attitudes towards different aspects of HIV. In view of the lack of scales measuring this construct in Colombia, this study sought to validate the HIV-AS test for adolescents from Colombia. A total of 867 Colombian students, aged between 14 and 19 years (M = 15.97 years; SD = 1.37) were evaluated. Participants responded to the HIV-AS test and a set of scales used to assess external validity. Content validity analyses reflected good adequacy indices for the items. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a four-factor structure and reliability indices were satisfactory. The structural equation model showed good levels of fit. Most of the items presented a discrimination index above 0.30 and contributed to the reliability of the scale, except for item 9, which was eliminated. Concurrent validity showed significant correlations among the HIV-AS and other similar constructs. A reliable measurement of attitudes toward HIV allows for an improved assessment of the risk associated with exposure to sexually transmitted infections in adolescent populations.

Sexual risk among Colombian adolescents: knowledge, attitudes, normative beliefs, perceived control, intention, and sexual behavior.

BACKGROUND: Colombia has one of the highest rates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pregnancies - both of which are influenced by lack of condom use -, among adolescent population in Latin America; however, the mechanisms underlying the inconsistent use of condoms in this population are poorly understood. This descriptive and cross-sectional study's purpose was to examine sexual behavior and its precursors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and considering gender-based differences. Another objective was to study the mediating effect of intention in the relationship between behavior precursors and condom use based on the TPB. METHODS: We recruited 1100 adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years old (M = 15.94, SD = 1.30, 54.4% female) from Bogotá and Barranquilla, two of the cities with highest adolescent birth rates among adolescents in Colombia. Sociodemographic variables, knowledge on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS-related attitudes, including attitudes toward the use of condoms, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and sexual behavior were assessed using self-reports. All analyses were run using SPSS v25. The indirect effect of intention to explain the relationship between precursors and the use of condoms during sexual intercourse was estimated using the PROCESS v3 macro. RESULTS: Descriptive analyses suggest a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies associated to inconsistent condom use, medium-low level of knowledge about sexual health, low normative beliefs regarding peers' condom use, and a certain perceived difficulty for using condoms. Condoms are used 71% of the times they have sex, but only 22% of the participants use them consistently; girls use condoms more consistently than boys. Sexual risk characteristics differed significantly by gender. Mediation analyses indicated that condom use intention mediates the relationship between behavioral precursors and frequency of condom use, according to the TPB. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide a better understanding of sexual risk and highlight important implications for the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. There is a need of designing and implementing protocolized sexual health promotion programs in schools with the aim of reducing sexual risk behaviors in Colombian adolescents.

Developing guidelines for adapting questionnaires into the same language in another culture / Desarrollo de guías para adaptar cuestionarios dentro de una misma lengua en otra cultura

The adaptation of a test from a language into that same language in another culture is common; however, there are no clear guidelines for this process. The objective was to adapt a protocol providing some guidelines for adapting questionnaires from one language to the same language. a total of eight experts supported the adaption process and 825 participants from Spain and Colombia were evaluated in this study. Participants answered the brief version of the Sexual Assertiveness Scale, the Sexual Opinion Survey, the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire and the Sexuality Scale. The adaptation was made following some guidelines which have already been published. The results showed a strong partial invariance between countries. DIF analysis also replied this partial invariant form and adequate psychometric properties; guidelines to adapt questionnaires into same language in other cultures are presented. therefore, the adaptation process - in the absence of further evidence - could be effective.

La adaptación de test dentro de una misma lengua en varias culturas diferentes es común; sin embargo, no existen guías claras para realizar este proceso. El objetivo fue adaptar un protocolo generando unas guías para adaptar cuestionarios dentro de una misma lengua. Un total de ocho expertos realizaron el proceso de adaptación y 825 participantes de Espana y Colombia fueron evaluados en este estudio. Todos ellos contestaron a la versión breve de la Sexual Assertiveness Scale, la Sexual Opinion Survey, la Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire y la Sexuality Scale. La adaptación se realizó siguiendo las directrices de algunas guías ya publicadas. Los resultados mostraron una invarianza fuerte entre los dos países. Estos hallazgos fueron replicados mediante DIF, además se observaron adecuadas propiedades psicométricas, finalmente las guías para el proceso de adaptación han sido presentadas. Por lo que concluimos que el proceso de adaptación - en ausencia de más evidencia- podría ser efectivo.

Adaptation, Validation, Reliability and Factorial Equivalence of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in Colombian and Spanish Population.

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is the most widely used instrument to assess self-esteem. In light of the absence of adaptations in Colombia, this study seeks to validate and adapt this scale in the Colombian population, and perform factorial equivalence with the Spanish version. A total of 1,139 seniors (633 Colombians and 506 Spaniards) were evaluated; the individuals answered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and sexual self-esteem scale. The average score of the items was similar to the questionnaire's theoretical average, and standard deviations were close to one. The psychometric properties of the items are generally adequate with alphas of .83 and .86 and significant (CI = .95) and correlations with the sexual self-esteem scale ranging from .31 and .41. Factorial equivalence was confirmed by means of a structural equation model (CFI = .912 and RMSEA = .079), thus showing a strong level of invariance.

Adaptation and Validation of the Brief Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS) in a Colombian Sample and Factorial Equivalence with the Spanish Version.

Attitudes toward sexuality are a key variable for sexual health. It is really important for psychology and education to have adapted and validated questionnaires to evaluate these attitudes. Therefore, the objective of this research was to adapt, validate and calculate the equivalence of the Colombia Sexual Opinion Survey as compared to the same survey from Spain. To this end, a total of eight experts were consulted and 1,167 subjects from Colombia and Spain answered the Sexual Opinion Survey, the Sexual Assertiveness Scale, the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, and the Sexuality Scale. The evaluation was conducted by online and the results show adequate qualitative and quantitative properties of the items, with adequate reliability and external validity and compliance with the strong invariance between the two countries. Consequently, the Colombia Sexual Opinion Survey is a valid and reliable scale and its scores can be compared with the ones from the Spain survey, with minimum bias.

Adaptation, validation and reliability of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire in a Colombian sample and factorial equivalence with the Spanish version / Adaptación, validación y fiabilidad del Cuestionario de funcionamiento sexual del Hospital General de Massachusetts en una muestra colombiana y equivalencia factorial con la versión en españo

Sexual dysfunctions are a highly prevalent problem. It is necessary to have instruments adapted to the Colombian population in order to evaluate their sexual functioning because to date none of them have been validated. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire in Colombian population, and compare it with a similar sample from Spain. Two different samples were used in this study. On one hand, a sample of expert judges who performed the cultural adaptation and the evaluation of the scale, and on the other hand, a second end sample of 1117 participants -men and women of both nationalities- who answered the questionnaire -together with others-through a virtual platform. Some of the items were adjusted based on the initial results of the evaluation by the expert judges. Cronbach's alpha between .81 and .92 were obtained after the application of the test. The psychometric properties of the scale are adequate and this instrument properly correlates with other criterion variables. Construct validity was evaluated using factorial invariance. The unidimensional configural model for men (RMSEA= .000; CFI = 1) and for women (RMSEA= .048, CFI = .997) had an adequate fit, and a level of strict invariance was also reached. Screening can be performed with this first validated scale in order to evaluate the sexual difficulties of the Colombian population and compare them with the Spanish population.

Las disfunciones sexuales son un problema muy frecuente. Es necesario contar con instrumentos adaptados a la población colombiana con el fin de evaluar su funcionamiento sexual porque hasta la fecha ninguno de ellos se ha validado. El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y validar el Cuestionario de funcionamiento sexual del Hospital General de Massachusetts en la población colombiana y compararla con una muestra similar de España. Se utilizaron dos muestras diferentes en este estudio. Por una parte, una muestra de jueces expertos que realizaron la adaptación cultural y la evaluación de la escala, y por la otra, una segunda muestra final de 1.117 participantes - hombres y mujeres de ambas nacionalidades - que respondieron el cuestionario, junto con otros, a través de una plataforma virtual. Algunos de los elementos se ajustaron según los resultados iniciales de la evaluación realizada por jueces expertos. Se obtuvieron coeficientes alfa de Cronbach entre 0.81 y 0.92 después de la aplicación de la prueba. Las propiedades psicométricas de la escala son adecuadas y este instrumento se correlaciona debidamente con otras variables para el criterio. La validez del constructo se evaluó mediante invariancia factorial. El modelo configural unidimensional para los hombres (RMSEA = 0.000; CFI = 1) y para las mujeres (RMSEA = 0.048; CFI =0.997) tenía un ajuste adecuado, y también se alcanzó un nivel de estricta invariancia. Puede realizarse un cribado con esta primera escala validada para evaluar las dificultades sexuales de la población colombiana y compararlas con las de la población española.