The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years
Objectives: We developed and validated a set of self-administered, multidimensional indicators of sexual health among Canadians aged 16–24 years. Methods: This study used a mixed-method qualitative and quantitative approach to develop and validate indicators of sexual health. We used the four-stage...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Association of Schools of Public Health
2013
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| Online Access: | http://www.publichealthreports.org/issueopen.cfm?articleID=2939 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38333 |
| _version_ | 1848755292365389824 |
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| author | Smylie, L. Clarke, B. Doherty-Poirier, Maryanne Gahagan, J. Numer, M. Otis, J. Smith, G. McKay, A. Soon, C. |
| author_facet | Smylie, L. Clarke, B. Doherty-Poirier, Maryanne Gahagan, J. Numer, M. Otis, J. Smith, G. McKay, A. Soon, C. |
| author_sort | Smylie, L. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objectives: We developed and validated a set of self-administered, multidimensional indicators of sexual health among Canadians aged 16–24 years. Methods: This study used a mixed-method qualitative and quantitative approach to develop and validate indicators of sexual health. We used the four-stage Dillman method to identify, focus-test, pilot-test, and validate key metrics to measure sexual health. We collected quantitative data to validate the measures through a computer-assisted self-interviewing program among a purposive sample of 1,158 people aged 16–24 years recruited from four Canadian provinces. Results: The survey contained 75 items measuring five dimensions of sexual health: (1) physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; (2) approach to sexuality; (3) sexual relationships; (4) sexual experiences; and (5) discrimination, coercion, and violence. Principal components analysis for composite measures found seven components with eigenvalues ≥ 1. The factor structure was stable across gender, age, size of area of residence, and language in which the survey was completed. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.90. Indicators of condom use at last vaginal sex, protection self-efficacy, sexually transmitted infection/HIV testing self-efficacy, and sexual orientation also showed good construct validity. Conclusions: The indicators constituted a conceptually grounded survey that is easy for young adults to complete and contains valid, reliable, and psychometrically robust measures. The survey instrument provides a tool for future research to collect population-level data to measure and monitor trends in the sexual health of young people in Canada. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:53:59Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-38333 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:53:59Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Association of Schools of Public Health |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-383332017-01-30T14:16:51Z The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years Smylie, L. Clarke, B. Doherty-Poirier, Maryanne Gahagan, J. Numer, M. Otis, J. Smith, G. McKay, A. Soon, C. Objectives: We developed and validated a set of self-administered, multidimensional indicators of sexual health among Canadians aged 16–24 years. Methods: This study used a mixed-method qualitative and quantitative approach to develop and validate indicators of sexual health. We used the four-stage Dillman method to identify, focus-test, pilot-test, and validate key metrics to measure sexual health. We collected quantitative data to validate the measures through a computer-assisted self-interviewing program among a purposive sample of 1,158 people aged 16–24 years recruited from four Canadian provinces. Results: The survey contained 75 items measuring five dimensions of sexual health: (1) physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; (2) approach to sexuality; (3) sexual relationships; (4) sexual experiences; and (5) discrimination, coercion, and violence. Principal components analysis for composite measures found seven components with eigenvalues ≥ 1. The factor structure was stable across gender, age, size of area of residence, and language in which the survey was completed. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.90. Indicators of condom use at last vaginal sex, protection self-efficacy, sexually transmitted infection/HIV testing self-efficacy, and sexual orientation also showed good construct validity. Conclusions: The indicators constituted a conceptually grounded survey that is easy for young adults to complete and contains valid, reliable, and psychometrically robust measures. The survey instrument provides a tool for future research to collect population-level data to measure and monitor trends in the sexual health of young people in Canada. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38333 http://www.publichealthreports.org/issueopen.cfm?articleID=2939 Association of Schools of Public Health fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Smylie, L. Clarke, B. Doherty-Poirier, Maryanne Gahagan, J. Numer, M. Otis, J. Smith, G. McKay, A. Soon, C. The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years |
| title | The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years |
| title_full | The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years |
| title_fullStr | The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years |
| title_full_unstemmed | The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years |
| title_short | The development and validation of sexual health indicators of Canadians aged 16-24 years |
| title_sort | development and validation of sexual health indicators of canadians aged 16-24 years |
| url | http://www.publichealthreports.org/issueopen.cfm?articleID=2939 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38333 |