Factor structure and gender stability in the multidimensional condom attitudes scale.
Assessment
; 22(3): 374-84, 2015 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25139383
ABSTRACT
Sexually transmitted infections continue to trouble the United States and can be attenuated through increased condom use. Attitudes about condoms are an important multidimensional factor that can affect sexual health choices and have been successfully measured using the Multidimensional Condom Attitudes Scale (MCAS). Such attitudes have the potential to vary between men and women, yet little work has been undertaken to identify if the MCAS accurately captures attitudes without being influenced by underlying gender biases. We examined the factor structure and gender invariance on the MCAS using confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory, within-subscale differential item functioning analyses. More than 770 participants provided data via the Internet. Results of differential item functioning analyses identified three items as differentially functioning between the genders, and removal of these items is recommended. Findings confirmed the previously hypothesized multidimensional nature of condom attitudes and the five-factor structure of the MCAS even after the removal of the three problematic items. In general, comparisons across genders using the MCAS seem reasonable from a methodological standpoint. Results are discussed in terms of improving sexual health research and interventions.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Attitude to Health
/
Condoms
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Assessment
Journal subject:
PSICOLOGIA
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States