Associations between adolescents' sexual risk behavior and scores on six psychometric scales: Impulsivity predicts risk

The objective of this study was to identify associations of six paper-and-pencil instruments with a composite index of sexual risk behavior among adolescents. Adolescents (N = 478) were sampled from community-based organizations, two homeless shelters, a detention center, and a drug treatment center. Participants completed a battery of 12 risk behavior questions and six scales: Attitudes Toward Prevention, Social Provision Scale, AIDS Knowledge Test, Condom Attitude Scale for Adolescents, Impulse Control Scale, and the Risk Taking Propensity Inventory. Multiple linear regression assessed associations for males and females separately. The Millon Impulse Control Scale and the Risk Taking Propensity Inventory were associated with risk outcome for males and females. The Condom Attitudes Scale predicted risk outcome in males. For both genders, the Risk Taking and the Millon Impulse Control Scales were collinear. The Millon Impulse Control Scale was the best measure of risk outcome for both genders, but cannot be relied upon in the absence of other supporting evidence for risk behavior.