Condom Use Attitudes Scale – Spanish Short Form (CUAS – SSF). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin method (.821) and the Bartlett sphericity test (p < .001) indicated adequate sample size and fit. Kaiser’s rule, the scree plot, and pattern of loadings indicated a two-factor structure which explained approximately 37% of the variance. Results also indicated that 7 of the original 8 items loaded onto factors except for the item: “los condones no son seguros” (“condoms are unreliable”). Consequently, this item was dropped and the analysis was repeated with the remaining 7 items. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin method (.808) and Barlett sphericity test (p < .001) indicated the sample fit and size were satisfactory. The second iteration demonstrated an increase in the amount of variance explained (40%) and demonstrated a simple two-factor structure. All items had factor loadings above .32 and had cross loadings that were at least .17 in difference. Items 1, 2, 4, and 6 loaded onto Factor 1 which we labeled “general attitudes towards condom use”. Items 3, 5, and 8 all loaded onto Factor 2 which we labeled “attitudes towards condom use with partners”. The factor correlation matrix indicated a moderate correlation between the two factors (.625). Cronbach’s Alpha indicated an acceptable reliability (α = .764). Table 2 presents the final pattern matrix.
Table 2
Pattern Matrix for the CUAS-SSF (N = 645)
Variable | Factor 1 | Factor 2 |
CUAS – SSF | | |
1. Los condones son incomodos. | .500 | |
2. Me da vergüenza que me vean comprando condones. | .565 | |
3. No es necesario el condón al estar Seguro de que la otra persona no tiene una enfermedad sexual. | | .604 |
4. Los condones arruinan el deseo. | .776 | |
5. Yo no uso condón cuando mi pareja se rehúsa a usarlo. | | .458 |
6. Los condones interrumpen la erección. | .665 | |
7. Cuando uno tiene una pareja de mucho tiempo, no es necesario usar condón. | | .712 |
For the CFA, we hypothesized a two correlated factor model with four items (i.e., items 1, 2, 4, and 6) loading on the first factor and three items (i.e., items, 3, 5, and 8) loading on the second factor. The model yielded a χ2(13) = 50.190, p < .001; GFI = .980, CFI = .962, TLI = .939; RMSEA = .065, and SRMR = .0342. Therefore, all of these values met the a priori specified values which indicate adequate fit. Additionally, the results indicated that both Factor 1 (i.e., items, 1, 2, 4, and 6) and Factor 2 (i.e., items 3, 5, and 8) regression weights were all significant (p < .001) with beta values that ranged between β = .39 to .81 and β = .56 to .60, respectively. Factor 1 and Factor 2 were significantly (p < .001) correlated with a covariance weight of .74. The parameter estimates are represented in Fig. 1.
Condom Use Social Norms – Spanish Short Form (CUSN – SSF). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin method (.720) and the Bartlett sphericity test (p < .001) [44] indicated that the overall sample fit and size were satisfactory. Inspection of eigenvalues and the scree plot, and assessment of the interpretability of the pattern loadings and simple structure revealed a two-factor scale which explained approximately 30% of the variance. All items loaded onto the two factors with loadings above .32 and no cross-loadings which is indicative of a simple structure and good interpretability of the pattern loadings. Items 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 loaded onto Factor 1 while items 3 and 4 loaded onto Factor 2. The factor correlation matrix indicated a small yet meaningful correlation between the two factors (.249). Unfortunately, estimates of reliability indicated that the scale had poor reliability (α = .501). Due to the low reliability of the scale and that one of its factors was composed of two items, a second exploratory factor analysis was conducted without items 3 and 4. Kaiser’s Rule, the scree plot, and the interpretability of the pattern loadings indicated only one factor with all five items having above a .32 factor loading and approximately 31% of the variance was explained. Furthermore, reliability for the five-item scale increase to α = .674 which is considered adequate for an exploratory measure [55]. The pattern matrix for the CUSN-SSF is depicted in Table 3.
Table 3
Pattern Matrix for the CUSN-SSF (N = 645)
Variable | Factor 1 | Factor 2 |
CUSN – SSF | | |
1. Mi o mis parejas sexuales prefieren que usemos condones cuando témenos relaciones sexuales. | .401 | |
2. Mis amigos(as) siempre usan condones cuando tienen relaciones sexuales. | .558 | |
3. La mayoría de mis amigos(as) piensan que usar condones en mucho problema. | | .454 |
4. Mis amigos(as) creen que insistir en usar condón significa que uno NO confía en la pareja. | | .563 |
5. Mis amigos(as) aceptan por complete el uso de condón. | .646 | |
6. El VIH-SIDA ha hecho que mis amigos(as) sean mas cuidadosos(as) al elegir con quien van a tener sexo. | .655 | |
7. Mis amigos(as) creen que tener un menor número de parejas sexuales es importante. | .474 | |
The CFA of the five-item (i.e., items 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7) CUSN-SSF indicated satisfactory fit: GFI = .977; CFI = .916; TLI = .832; RMSEA = .099; and SRMR = .0482. Additionally, all items loaded significantly and in the expected direction onto the factor with regression weights were all significant (p < .001) with beta values that ranged between β = .39 to .74. All parameter estimates are depicted in Fig. 2.
Condom Use Self-Efficacy – Spanish Short Form. Kaiser’s rule and the scree plot suggested one factor which accounted for approximately 80% of the variance. However, the pattern matrix was unable to be interpreted due to the presence of a Heywood case (i.e., item 2). A Heywood case indicates an improper solution which may be the result of highly correlated items or items that have zero or negative variances [56]. Subsequently, we inspected the inter-item correlational matrix to assess for multicollinearity which revealed a very high correlation between items 5 and 6 (r = .88). Simulation studies have examined the impact that multicollinearity has on Type II error and found that these errors can be mitigated by high measure reliability, a large amount of variance, and large sample size [57]. Consequently, item 6 was dropped and a second EFA was conducted. In the second iteration, the KMO method (.723) and the Barlett sphericity test (p < .001) both suggested that the sample fit and size were satisfactory. The Kaiser Rule, scree plot, and pattern matrix all indicated a two-factor structure which explained approximately 80% of the variance. The pattern matrix revealed a simple structure with interpretability of the factor loadings. Items 3, 4, and 5 loaded onto Factor 1 while items 1 and 2 loaded onto Factor 2. The factor correlation matrix indicated a significant correlation between the two factors (α = .399). Lastly, Cronbach’s alpha indicated an acceptable reliability (α = .844). Tables 2 and 3 present item-correlations and descriptive statistics (e.g., M, SD). The pattern matrix for the CUSE-SSF is depicted in Table 4.
Table 4
Pattern Matrix for the CUSE – SSF items (N = 645)
Variable | Factor 1 | Factor 2 |
1. Confío en mí, en que hablare con mi pareja sexual acera del VIHA/SIDA aunque este bajo la influencia del crack. | | .974 |
2. Confío en mí, en que hablare con mi pareja sexual acerca del VIH/SIDA aunque la persona con quien este teniendo sexo este en desacuerdo. | | .782 |
3. Confío en mi en que usare condón la próxima vez que tenga sexo aunque este bajo la influencia de crack. | .908 | |
4. Confío en mi en que usare condón la próxima vez que tenga sexo aunque la persona con quien este teniendo sex este en desacuerdo. | .940 | |
5. Confío en mi en que insistiré en usar condón estando en el calor del momento aunque este bajo la influencia de crack. | .831 | |
Per the results of the EFA, we tested a two-factor correlated CFA on the CUSE-SSF. The model fit indices for this first model indicated adequate fit: GFI = .990; CFI = .994; TLI = .986; RMSEA = .071; and SRMR = .0170. Subsequently no modifications were made. Additionally, the results indicated that both Factor 1 (i.e., items, 3, 4, and 5) and Factor 2 (i.e., items 1 and 2) regression weights were all significant (p < .001) with beta values that ranged between β = .85 to .92 and β = .87 to .92, respectively. Factor 1 and Factor 2 were significantly (p < .001) correlated with a covariance weight of .45. Parameter estimate results are shown in Fig. 3.
To test the construct validity of the measures, bivariate correlations were computed between the scales and self-reported condom use in the last 30 days to determine convergent validity. The correlation matrix revealed that all the measures were significantly correlated with one another in the expected direction with small yet meaningful values. As higher scores of the Condom Use Attitudes Scale – Spanish Short Form indicate more negative attitudes towards condoms, this scale had negative correlations with both Condom Use Social Norm – Spanish Short Form (r = − .09, p = .002) and Condom Use Self-Efficacy – Spanish Short Form (-.24, p < .001). Higher scores on both the Condom Use Social Norm – Spanish Short Form and Condom Use Self-Efficacy indicate more positive attitudes towards condom use. Consequently, these two scales were positively correlated (r = .18). Lastly, analysis revealed that all scales were significantly correlated with self-reported lack or inconsistent use of condoms in the last 30 days (i.e., CUAS – SSF, r = .168, p < .001; CUSN – SSF, r = − .09, p = .001; CUSE – SSF, r = − .08, p = .003).