Cross-cultural psychometric assessment of the parent-teen sexual risk communication (PTSRC-III) scale in Jamaica

Abstract

Background: HIV/AIDS represents a serious health threat in Jamaica. Adolescent and young adult females are at particularly high risk. US studies have shown that parent-teen sexual communi- cation may significantly influence the sexual risk- related beliefs and behaviors. However, no stu- dies have examined parent-teen sexual commu- nication in Jamaica or the wider Caribbean. Ob- jective: The study aims to describe patterns of parent-teen sexual communication between Ja- maican mothers and adolescent daughters and assess the psychometric properties of the Par- ent-Teen Sexual Risk Communication (PTSRC-III) scale when used with this population. Method: Data were collected as part of a larger random- ized controlled trial study. A total of 330 urban Jamaican adolescent girls, ages 13 - 17, and their mothers or female guardians completed the 8-item PTSRC-III scale at baseline and 3- month follow-up. Results: Mothers’ and daugh- ters’ scores covered the full range of possible scores. Internal reliability of the PTSRC-III scale was excellent (α = 0.92 and 0.93 for mothers and daughters, respectively). There was evidence of consistency over time (r = 0.57, p < 0.001) and moderate mother-daughter concordance in re- ports of sexual communication (r = 0.27, p < 0.001). Daughters’ PTSRC-III scores were sig- nificantly correlated with daugh- ters’ reports of comfort and ease with mother-daughter sexual communication (r = 0.427, p < 0.001), mother- daughter closeness (r = 0.288, p < 0.001), and importance of mothers’ approval (r = 0.146, p = 0.008). A two-factor structure was identified, although the second factor showed a lower eigen- value than was found in previous US studies. The loading pattern and explanation of variance were very similar to the factor 2 described in the initial psychometric testing of the PTSRC-III in- strument. Discussion: Patterns of sexual com- munication and the psychometrics of the scale when used in Jamaica were consistent with US results, and provided evidence of the cross-cul- tural reliability and validity of the PTSRC-III scale.