The Attitudes Toward Prostitutes and Prostitution Scale: A New Tool for Measuring Public Attitudes Toward Prostitutes and Prostitution

Author: Levin, Lia & Peled, Einat

Abstract: Contemporary developments in social attitudes toward prostitution and prostitutes influence both social policies and the social work profession. Understanding individuals’ attitudes toward these issues is necessary for the development of social interventions and policies aimed at reducing stigmata attached to them. This article describes a new research measure for the assessment of attitudes toward prostitutes and prostitution (the Attitudes toward Prostitutes and Prostitution Scale; APPS), and outlines its development process. Results from pilot studies using the APPS are presented, alongside detailed information regarding the measure’s psychometric properties. The article concludes with a review of possible uses and limitations of the APPS.

Keywords: prostitution, prostitutes, women in prostitution, quantitative research measure, attitudes, social work