Perception of Easy–Difficult: Attitude or Self‐Efficacy?

This study investigates the semantic‐differential item easy‐difficult in order to evaluate whether it can be considered a measure of attitude or self‐efficacy in relation to consistent condom use with sex partners. Using confirmatory factor analysis and comparing a set of logically nested models, our findings suggest that easy‐difficult acts most like an attitude item in relation to this particular behavior, especially for males rating condom use with their main sex partners. However, for females and to a less extent males with nonmain sex partners, easy‐difficult acts as a measure of both attitude and self‐efficacy. Therefore, the use of easy‐difficult items should be avoided or used with caution in this research context.