Psychometric analysis of the attitudes toward early sexual relationships scale in late adolescents and young adults in Perú
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Abstract
Introduction: the lack of instruments to assess attitudes toward early sexual relationships in late adolescents and young adults limits preventive interventions in sexual health.
Objective: to design and validate the Early Sexual Relationships Attitudes Scale (E-ARST).
Methodology: instrumental study. Participants included 995 adolescents and young adults aged 18 to 24 years (M = 20.43; 50% male), selected through purposive non-probability sampling in the three regions of Peru. Test construction: 10 stages recommended by psychometric experts, with an initial version of 60 items. Statistical analysis included Aiken's V coefficient, network analysis (EGA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency analysis, and measurement invariance.
Results: according to expert judgment, 20 items proved to be clear, relevant, and representative. The EGA analysis suggested removing 4 items. Subsequently, the EFA (KMO = 0,953, Bartlett's: X2(120) = 2220,1; p = 0,000) revealed a unidimensional structure (63,81 % of total variance), and the CFA validated a final structure of 10 items, with adequate reliability (CFI = 0,985; TLI = 0,981; RMSEA = 0,118; SRMR = 0,027; ω = 0,957). Finally, the scale proved to be invariant by sex, age, region, and relationship status.
Conclusion: the E-ARST is the first validated scale to measure attitudes toward early sexual relationships in Peruvian adolescents and young adults aged 18 to 24 years, facilitating research for prevention and the promotion of reproductive health policies.
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