Abstract
Much of the existing research on sexuality attitudes is dated and provides contradictory findings, chiefly because of varied measures and data gathered from different population cohorts. A scale with a particular emphasis on interpersonal coercion was developed and data gathered from 253 female and 92 male first and second year university students in three social science courses. Analyses provided data on psychometric properties and gender differences. Three clear and reliable factors were found, Attitudes toward Sexual Coercion and Assault, Attitudes toward Sexuality Issues, and Attitudes toward Gender Roles. Other less well defined factors, and the failure of some key sexuality issues to include the existing factors, suggest the need for further refinement of the scale to reflect the multidimensionality of the construct. The identified relationship between attitudes and behavior emphasizes the need for a reliable, valid, up-to-date scale to provide data as a basis for developing education programs. Suggestions for refinement of the instrument and gathering of data from a larger and more representative sample are offered.