Sexuality Scale – SS
A 30-item self-report instrument designed to measure three aspects of human sexuality: sexual esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sexuality Scale – SS was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. & Dennis R. Papini (1989). It is designed to measure Sexual esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Sexual Esteem, Sexual Depression, Sexual Preoccupation.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Esteem | 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25,28 | 10 |
| Sexual Depression | 2,5,8,17,20,23,26,29 | 8 |
| Sexual Preoccupation | 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30 | 10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 2 = Agree, 1 = Slightly agree, 0 = Neither agree nor disagree, -1 = Slightly disagree, -2 = Disagree.
The scale includes 13 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 -20 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- Sexual Esteem Score Range: -20 – 20
- Sexual Depression Score Range: -16 – 16
- Sexual Preoccupation Score Range: -20 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Sexual esteem alpha: .92-.93; Sexual depression alpha: .88-.94; Sexual preoccupation alpha: .79-.88.
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.