Abstinence Motivation Scale-Sex (AMS-Sex)
Measures the motivational regulations for choosing sexual abstinence based on self-determination theory.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Abstinence Motivation Scale-Sex (AMS-Sex) was developed by Natalie Johnson (2013). It is designed to measure Motivation for sexual abstinence. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and young adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: External Regulation, Introjected Regulation, Identified Regulation, Integrated Regulation.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| External Regulation | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | 6 |
| Introjected Regulation | 7,8,9,10,11,12 | 6 |
| Identified Regulation | 13,14,15,16,17,18 | 6 |
| Integrated Regulation | 19,20,21,22,23,24 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all a reason for me, 2 = A little bit of a reason for me, 3 = Somewhat of a reason for me, 4 = Quite a bit of a reason for me, 5 = Totally a reason for me.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 6 to 30. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Endorsement: 6 – 13
- Moderate Endorsement: 14 – 22
- High Endorsement: 23 – 30
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.