Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales—Short Form (SIS/SES-SF)

Scale Overview

The Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales—Short Form (SIS/SES-SF) was developed by Deanna L. Carpenter, Erick Janssen, Cynthia A. Graham, Harrie Vorst, Jelte Wicherts (2008). It is designed to measure Sexual excitation and sexual inhibition. The scale is intended for use with Adults.

Scale Structure

This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Sexual Excitation (SES), Sexual Inhibition 1 (SIS1), Sexual Inhibition 2 (SIS2).

Factor / Subscale	Items	N
Sexual Excitation (SES)	1,3,8,10,11,14	6
Sexual Inhibition 1 (SIS1)	4,9,12,13	4
Sexual Inhibition 2 (SIS2)	2,5,6,7	4

Response Format

Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.

Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Disagree, 4 = Strongly Disagree.

The scale includes 14 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 6 to 24. Interpretation guidelines:

• Sexual Excitation (SES) Score Range (Higher scores indicate higher excitation proneness): 6 – 24
• Sexual Inhibition 1 (SIS1) Score Range (Higher scores indicate higher inhibition due to threat of performance failure): 4 – 16
• Sexual Inhibition 2 (SIS2) Score Range (Higher scores indicate higher inhibition due to threat of performance consequences): 4 – 16

Psychometric Properties

Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Test-retest: SES (r = .61 – .75), SIS1 (r = .61 – .66), SIS2 (r = .63 – .65).

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.