Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire – MSAQ
Measures individual differences in how people approach the sexual aspects of their relationships across eight distinct dimensions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire – MSAQ was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. (1997). It is designed to measure Sexual styles and approaches to sexual relationships. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 56 items organized into 8 factors/subscales: Romantic Approach, Game-Playing Approach, Friendship Approach, Practical Approach, Possessive Approach, Altruistic Approach, Communal-Caring Approach, Exchange Approach.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Romantic Approach | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | 7 |
| Game-Playing Approach | 8,9,10,11,12,13,14 | 7 |
| Friendship Approach | 15,16,17,18,19,20,21 | 7 |
| Practical Approach | 22,23,24,25,26,27,28 | 7 |
| Possessive Approach | 29,30,31,32,33,34,35 | 7 |
| Altruistic Approach | 36,37,38,39,40,41,42 | 7 |
| Communal-Caring Approach | 43,44,45,46,47,48,49 | 7 |
| Exchange Approach | 50,51,52,53,54,55,56 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 5 = Strongly agree with the statement, 4 = Moderately agree with the statement, 3 = Neutral – Neither agree nor disagree, 2 = Moderately disagree with the statement, 1 = Strongly disagree with the statement.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 7 to 35. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low endorsement of this sexual approach style: 7 – 14
- Moderate endorsement of this sexual approach style: 15 – 27
- High endorsement of this sexual approach style: 28 – 35
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
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.