Scale Overview
The Family Sex Communication Quotient – FSCQ was developed by Clay Warren, Michael Neer (1986). It is designed to measure Family sex communication orientation. The scale is intended for use with Parents and children (adolescents/young adults).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Comfort, Information, Value.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Comfort |
2,5,8,11,14,17 |
6 |
| Information |
3,6,9,12,15,18 |
6 |
| Value |
1,4,7,10,13,16 |
6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 6 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 18 to 90. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low orientation toward family sex communication: 18 – 39
- Moderate orientation toward family sex communication: 40 – 69
- High orientation toward family sex communication: 70 – 90
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of a = .92.
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.