Psychometric Validation of the Risky Sexual Behaviors Scale in Mexican Adults

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a growing public health problem in Latin America. One key factor in diminishing their spread is the reduction of risky sexual behaviors, which requires reliable and valid information on the subject. This study aimed to validate a scale for measuring risky sexual behaviors in adults from Mexico City. We worked with 750 participants (56.66% women and 43.34% men) between 18 and 60. An initial version of the scale was administered online after obtaining informed consent. The scale’s distribution, discrimination, reliability, and validity were analyzed. A 23-item scale was obtained with good reliability (ordinal α = .91). It exhibited a six-factor structure that explained 47% of the variance and demonstrated good fit (χ2/gl = 2.84, p < .01; CFI = .96; RMSEA = .05, 95% CI [.04-.05]; SRMR = .08). The scale is reliable and valid for measuring risky sexual behaviors in Mexican adults.