Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale (NSIS)
Measures motivations for sexual intimacy across three dimensions: need for sex, need for affiliation, and need for dominance.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale (NSIS) was developed by William D. Marelich and Erin Shelton (2008). It is designed to measure Motivations for sexual intimacy. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Need for Sex, Need for Affiliation, Need for Dominance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Need for Sex | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | 8 |
| Need for Affiliation | 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17 | 9 |
| Need for Dominance | 18,19,20,21,22 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Disagree Definitely, 2 = Disagree Slightly, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Agree Slightly, 5 = Agree Definitely.
The scale includes 1 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Need: 1 – 2
- Moderate Need: 2 – 3
- High Need: 3 – 5
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Need for sex: .88, Need for affiliation: .82, Need for dominance: .74.
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.