Abstract
Objectives The purpose of this study was 1) to develop a psychological scale for preventing STDs and 2) to examine whether such an awareness scale might be used for predicting condom use by Japanese heterosexual university students.
Methods The sample data were collected in January 2006 for our first survey and January 2007 for our second survey.
In the first survey, 362 Japanese university students (males=180, females=182, mean age=20.14, SD=1.41) were asked to answer a questionnaire composed of a face sheet and 20 items during lecture periods. In order to explore the factor structure of these 20 items and confirm the reliability for each factor, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Step Wise Exploratory Factor Analysis (SEFA) and Reliability Analysis were conducted on the questionnaires.
In the second survey, 248 Japanese university students (males=121, females=127, mean age=20.07, SD=1.50) were asked to answer a questionnaire composed of a face sheet and an STDs Awareness Scale for University Students with 16 items that were newly developed based on the EFA results of the first survey. In order to confirm the structural validity of this scale, Confirmation Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted on these 16 items.
Logistic Regression Analysis was conducted to examine whether the awareness scale might be used in predicting condom use.
Results 1) EFA using the maximum likelihood method with a Promax rotation identified a four-factor solution with 20 items. 2) The results of the SEFA found a four-factor solution with 16 items as the most statistically acceptable model of the scale. 3) Each of the factors demonstrated acceptable internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha reliability values from 0.759 to 0.879. 4) The CFA showed that the structural validity of this scale satisfied the high level of statistical requirements. 5) The results of Logistic Regression Analysis demonstrated that there was a statistically significant partial regression coefficient between the scale and condom use or non-condom use at the last sexual intercourse.
Conclusion The results of the analyses supported the reliability and the structural validity of an STDs Awareness Scale for University Students as a means of assessing Japanese university students' awareness of STDs prevention and also indicated that the scale can be used in predicting students' condom use. Future research with other age groups will be needed to clarify the relationship between models for young people and models for other age groups.
