212442 Validation of the Multi-Factor Attitude toward Condoms Scale (MFACS) among College Students

Monday, November 9, 2009

Ariane V. Hollub, PhD, CHES, OTR , Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Michael Reece, PhD, MPH , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Debby Herbenick, PhD, MPH , Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Devon Hensel, PhD , Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Susan E. Middlestadt, PhD , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence rates remain high among college-aged individuals. The current study examined the validity and reliability of the Multi-Factor Attitude toward Condoms Scale (MFACS).

Methods: Data were collected using a test-retest design from five health-related undergraduate courses using in-class data collection. Participants were recruited from a large Midwestern university in the U.S. during late February and early March of 2009. A total of 863 surveys were collected across both initial testing and retesting, with 442 and 421 participants in each testing respectively.

Results: The reliability assessment results indicated a sufficient Cronbach's alpha for the total scale (á = .805) and each subscale: affective (á = .790), perceived effectiveness (á = .795), and manageability (á = .751). A significant Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r = .752, p = 0.01) was found, providing evidence for test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis results revealed that the model is an acceptable fit. Further evidence was found to support the construct and predictive validity of the MFACS.

Conclusions: The study reaffirmed the psychometric properties of a new scale developed to measure an individual's attitude toward condoms. The MFACS provides a contemporary way to examine condom attitudes as sexual health research is moving beyond only disease prevention efforts

Learning Objectives:
Describe validity of MFACS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: PhD in Health Behavior
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

See more of: Late-breaking Student Work in Public Health
See more of: APHA-Student Assembly