Abstract
Risky sexual behaviors among adolescents have become a critical public health concern as the specter of AIDS has spread to the general population. This paper summarizes efforts by the authors to develop the Sex Knowledge and Attitude Test for Adolescents (SKAT-A), a comprehensive adolescent sexuality scale. The SKAT-A has three main sections: knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. A principal component factor analysis indicates the presence of four subscales in the attitude scale: Sexual Myths, Responsibility, Sex and Its Consequences, and Sexual Coercion. The behavior section contains 43 questions concerning sexual behavior and experience. The results of test-retest and internal reliability assessments indicate that the subscales possess adequate temporal stability and internal consistency. An assessment of concurrent validity was also completed. Future efforts include the development of a sexual risk-taking scale and a interactive computer software package.