Abstract
This study evaluated the use of the Risky Sex Scale (RSS; T. O'Hare, 2001) among youth in outpatient treatment for substance use problems. An ethnically diverse sample of 394 adolescents (280 males; Mage = 16.33 years, SDage = 1.15) was recruited from 2 treatment sites. The study was guided by two aims. First, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on RSS item responses. Findings replicated the factor structure identified in previous studies of undergraduate students cited for campus alcohol violations. Second, structural equation modeling was used to document associations between RSS subscales and self-reported substance use and sexual risk behaviors. The risky sex expectancies subscale was significantly associated with co-occurring alcohol use and sex, alcohol use at last intercourse, and alcohol use during the prior 30 days. The risky sexual behaviors subscale was significantly associated with co-occurring drug use and sex, condom use at last intercourse, and unprotected intercourse during the prior 30 days. The factor structure of the RSS was consistent across age group (12-16 and 16-18 years) and across gender, and the links between the RSS subscales and health risk behaviors varied somewhat by gender but not by age group. These findings suggest that the RSS is an appropriate brief screening tool for predicting health risk behaviors among adolescents in substance abuse treatment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 359-365 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2012 |
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Keywords
- Adolescent
- Gender
- Risky sex expectancies, Sexual risk behavior
- Screening tool
- Substance abuse
- Treatment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
- Phychiatric Mental Health
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
Cite this
The use of the Risky Sex Scale among adolescents receiving treatment services for substance use problems : Factor structure and predictive validity. / Tubman, Jonathan G.; Des Rosiers, Sabrina E.; Schwartz, Seth J; O'Hare, Thomas.
In: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Vol. 43, No. 3, 01.10.2012, p. 359-365.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The use of the Risky Sex Scale among adolescents receiving treatment services for substance use problems
T2 - Factor structure and predictive validity
AU - Tubman, Jonathan G.
AU - Des Rosiers, Sabrina E.
AU - Schwartz, Seth J
AU - O'Hare, Thomas
PY - 2012/10/1
Y1 - 2012/10/1
N2 - This study evaluated the use of the Risky Sex Scale (RSS; T. O'Hare, 2001) among youth in outpatient treatment for substance use problems. An ethnically diverse sample of 394 adolescents (280 males; Mage = 16.33 years, SDage = 1.15) was recruited from 2 treatment sites. The study was guided by two aims. First, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on RSS item responses. Findings replicated the factor structure identified in previous studies of undergraduate students cited for campus alcohol violations. Second, structural equation modeling was used to document associations between RSS subscales and self-reported substance use and sexual risk behaviors. The risky sex expectancies subscale was significantly associated with co-occurring alcohol use and sex, alcohol use at last intercourse, and alcohol use during the prior 30 days. The risky sexual behaviors subscale was significantly associated with co-occurring drug use and sex, condom use at last intercourse, and unprotected intercourse during the prior 30 days. The factor structure of the RSS was consistent across age group (12-16 and 16-18 years) and across gender, and the links between the RSS subscales and health risk behaviors varied somewhat by gender but not by age group. These findings suggest that the RSS is an appropriate brief screening tool for predicting health risk behaviors among adolescents in substance abuse treatment.
AB - This study evaluated the use of the Risky Sex Scale (RSS; T. O'Hare, 2001) among youth in outpatient treatment for substance use problems. An ethnically diverse sample of 394 adolescents (280 males; Mage = 16.33 years, SDage = 1.15) was recruited from 2 treatment sites. The study was guided by two aims. First, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on RSS item responses. Findings replicated the factor structure identified in previous studies of undergraduate students cited for campus alcohol violations. Second, structural equation modeling was used to document associations between RSS subscales and self-reported substance use and sexual risk behaviors. The risky sex expectancies subscale was significantly associated with co-occurring alcohol use and sex, alcohol use at last intercourse, and alcohol use during the prior 30 days. The risky sexual behaviors subscale was significantly associated with co-occurring drug use and sex, condom use at last intercourse, and unprotected intercourse during the prior 30 days. The factor structure of the RSS was consistent across age group (12-16 and 16-18 years) and across gender, and the links between the RSS subscales and health risk behaviors varied somewhat by gender but not by age group. These findings suggest that the RSS is an appropriate brief screening tool for predicting health risk behaviors among adolescents in substance abuse treatment.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Gender
KW - Risky sex expectancies, Sexual risk behavior
KW - Screening tool
KW - Substance abuse
KW - Treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866533057&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84866533057&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsat.2012.01.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jsat.2012.01.002
M3 - Article
VL - 43
SP - 359
EP - 365
JO - Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
JF - Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
SN - 0740-5472
IS - 3
ER -