Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire – MSAQ
Measures individual differences in sexual relationship styles and psychological approaches to sexual intimacy.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire – MSAQ was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. (1997). It is designed to measure Sexual relationship styles. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 56 items organized into 8 factors/subscales: Romantic Approach, Game-Playing Approach, Friendship Approach, Practical Approach, Possessive Approach, Altruistic Approach, Communal-Caring Approach, Exchange Approach.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Romantic Approach | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | 7 |
| Game-Playing Approach | 8,9,10,11,12,13,14 | 7 |
| Friendship Approach | 15,16,17,18,19,20,21 | 7 |
| Practical Approach | 22,23,24,25,26,27,28 | 7 |
| Possessive Approach | 29,30,31,32,33,34,35 | 7 |
| Altruistic Approach | 36,37,38,39,40,41,42 | 7 |
| Communal-Caring Approach | 43,44,45,46,47,48,49 | 7 |
| Exchange Approach | 50,51,52,53,54,55,56 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 4 = Strongly agree, 3 = Moderately agree, 2 = Neutral – Neither agree nor disagree, 1 = Moderately disagree, 0 = Strongly disagree.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 28. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low agreement with this sexual approach style: 0 – 7
- Moderate agreement with this sexual approach style: 8 – 20
- High agreement with this sexual approach style: 21 – 28
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.