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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing
4142.0: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 12:45 PM

Abstract #154044

Measuring sexual compulsivity among young adults

Kimberly McBride, PhD, MA, Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 575 N. West Drive, Room 070, Indianapolis, IN 46202, 317/274-8812, kmcbride@indiana.edu and Michael Reece, PhD, MPH, Dept of Applied Health Science, Indiana University-Bloomington, 1025 E. 7th St, HPER 116, Bloomington, IN 47405.

Background: Sexual compulsivity (SC) has been associated with risk for HIV/STI transmission and other negative outcomes beyond those related to sexual health. Several measures have been developed to assess SC but, primarily, have been tested in clinical samples and samples of gay men. As a result, we know little about assessing SC in non-clinical groups, particularly young adults and women. The purpose of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of two scales used to assess SC. Methods: Data were collected from undergraduate students using convenience sampling methods (N = 390). Measures included a comprehensive sexual behavior questionnaire, Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI), and the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) and a new scale developed to measure negative outcomes of sexual behavior. Data analyses included descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to assess sample and scale characteristics. Results: The results indicated high levels of internal consistency for the CSBI (á = .87), SCS ( á = .79), and the new 20-item outcomes based measure (á = .89). Evidence of construct validity was established using Pearson's Correlation and Principal Components Analysis. Forward stepwise logistics regression analyses suggest that the CSBI and SCS are capable of predicting negative outcomes and unprotected sex. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the CSBI and SCS have acceptable levels of internal consistency and construct and criterion-related validity when used in a young adult sample. Further, both measures were able to predict negative outcomes of sexual behavior and unprotected sex. These findings may be important for assessment or screening.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Methodological Considerations for Recruitment, Data Collection, and Assessment in HIV Research

The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA