Validation of the Pornography Actors' Condom Use Attitudes Questionnaire

Condoms are rarely depicted in pornography. Previous research suggests that most consumers of pornography are in favor of condom use in pornography; however, available research on attitudes toward condom use in pornography has mostly focused on men. The current article investigates the psychometric properties of the Pornography Actors' Condom Use Attitudes Questionnaire (PACUAQ) and the association of attitudes with pornography use in a sample of 601 American college students. College students were recruited from two universities who reported viewing pornography in the past 12 months. Results from confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model: Condom Supportive Attitudes and Condom Critical Attitudes. The PACUAQ achieved strict invariance by gender. Results indicated men, relative to women, demonstrated higher endorsement of Condom Critical Attitudes, while women reported higher endorsement of Condom Supportive Attitudes compared to men. Those who endorsed more Condom Critical Attitudes reported viewing pornography more frequently and for a longer duration, as well as engaging in increased risky sexual behavior (i.e., condomless sex and increased number of hookup partners). Moreover, those who viewed pornography less frequently and for less duration also reported higher endorsement on the Condom Supportive Attitudes subscale. Results from the present study provide a validated questionnaire to explore attitudes toward condom use among men and women.