Sexually Assertive Behavior Scale – SABS
Measures women's behaviors and motives relative to initiating sexual contact with men.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sexually Assertive Behavior Scale – SABS was developed by Peter B. Anderson, Maria Newton (1997). It is designed to measure Women’s sexual initiation behaviors and motives. The scale is intended for use with Women.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 19 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Sexual Arousal, Verbal Pressure, Hidden Motives, Retaliation or Gain, Exploitation, Physical Force.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Arousal | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 |
| Verbal Pressure | 6,7,8 | 3 |
| Hidden Motives | 9,10,11 | 3 |
| Retaliation or Gain | 12,13,14 | 3 |
| Exploitation | 15,16,17 | 3 |
| Physical Force | 18,19 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Never (0 times), 1+ = One or more times (write actual frequency).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 19. Interpretation guidelines:
- No history of the behavior: 0 – 0
- Presence of the behavior (dichotomous scoring: 1 or more times): 1 – 19
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Subscale alphas: Hidden Motives (.75), Sexual Arousal (.64), Retaliation or Gain (.56), Verbal Pressure (.61), Exploitation (.43), Physical Force (.58).
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.