Table 2.
The result of exploratory factor analysis
| Reliability and effectiveness | ||
| 1 | Condoms are an effective method of birth control | 0.824 |
| 2 | The condom is a highly satisfactory form of contraception | 0.880 |
| 3 | I think condoms are an excellent means of contraception | 0.695 |
| 4a | Condoms are unreliable | 0.692 |
| 5a | Condoms do not offer reliable protection | 0.547 |
| Variance | 12.67% | |
| Excitement | ||
| 9 | Condoms are a lot of fun | 0.750 |
| 10a | The use of a condom is an interruption of foreplay | 0.796 |
| 6b | The use of condoms can make sex more stimulating | 0.382 |
| Variance | 4.32% | |
| Displeasure | ||
| 7a | Condoms ruin the sex act | 0.651 |
| 8a | Condoms are uncomfortable for both partners | 0.643 |
| Variance | 3.45% | |
| Identity stigma | ||
| 11a | Men who suggest using a condom are really boring | 0.660 |
| 12a | If a couple is about to have sex and the man suggests using a condom, it is less likely that they will have sex | 0.817 |
| 13a | Women think men who use condoms are jerks | 0.720 |
| 14a | A woman who suggests using a condom does not trust her partner | 0.646 |
| 15a | People who suggest condom use are a little bit geeky | 0.642 |
| Variance | 11.26% | |
| Embarrassment about negotiation | ||
| 16a | When I suggest using a condom I am almost always embarrassed | 0.606 |
| 17a | It is really hard to bring up the issue of using condoms to my partner | 0.737 |
| 18 | It is easy to suggest to my partner that we use a condom | 0.701 |
| 19 | I’m comfortable talking about condom with my partner | 0.762 |
| 20ab | I never know what to say when my partner and I need to talk about condoms or other protection | 0.245 |
| Variance | 6.41% | |
| Embarrassment about purchase | ||
| 21a | It is very embarrassing to buy condoms | 0.764 |
| 22a | When I need condoms I often dread having to get them | 0.788 |
| 23 | I don’t think that buying condoms is awkward | 0.503 |
| 24a | It would be embarrassing to be seen buying condoms in a store | 0.670 |
| 25a | I always feel really uncomfortable when I buy condoms | 0.615 |
| Variance | 12.56% | |
Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal axis factoring with promax rotation of factors with eigenvalues of > 1.0 was used in the analysis
aItems are reverse scored. The score of all reversed items were reordered in the EFA so that all items measured in the same direction
bItem 6 and 20 were removed because the factor loading was < 0.5