Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire – MSSCQ
A comprehensive self-report instrument designed to measure twenty distinct psychological dimensions of human sexuality and sexual self-concept.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire – MSSCQ was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. (1997). It is designed to measure Sexual Self-Concept. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 100 items organized into 20 factors/subscales: sexual-anxiety, sexual self-efficacy, sexual-consciousness, motivation to avoid risky sex, chance/luck sexual control, sexual-preoccupation, sexual-assertiveness, sexual-optimism, sexual problem self-blame, sexual-monitoring, sexual-motivation, sexual problem management, sexual-esteem, sexual-satisfaction, power-other sexual control, sexual self-schemata, fear-of-sex, sexual problem prevention, sexual-depression, internal-sexual-control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| sexual-anxiety | 1,21,41,61,81 | 5 |
| sexual self-efficacy | 2,22,42,62,82 | 5 |
| sexual-consciousness | 3,23,43,63,83 | 5 |
| motivation to avoid risky sex | 4,24,44,64,84 | 5 |
| chance/luck sexual control | 5,25,45,65,85 | 5 |
| sexual-preoccupation | 6,26,46,66,86 | 5 |
| sexual-assertiveness | 7,27,47,67,87 | 5 |
| sexual-optimism | 8,28,48,68,88 | 5 |
| sexual problem self-blame | 9,29,49,69,89 | 5 |
| sexual-monitoring | 10,30,50,70,90 | 5 |
| sexual-motivation | 11,31,51,71,91 | 5 |
| sexual problem management | 12,32,52,72,92 | 5 |
| sexual-esteem | 13,33,53,73,93 | 5 |
| sexual-satisfaction | 14,34,54,74,94 | 5 |
| power-other sexual control | 15,35,55,75,95 | 5 |
| sexual self-schemata | 16,36,56,76,96 | 5 |
| fear-of-sex | 17,37,57,77,97 | 5 |
| sexual problem prevention | 18,38,58,78,98 | 5 |
| sexual-depression | 19,39,59,79,99 | 5 |
| internal-sexual-control | 20,40,60,80,100 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all characteristic of me, 1 = Slightly characteristic of me, 2 = Somewhat characteristic of me, 3 = Moderately characteristic of me, 4 = Very characteristic of me.
The scale includes 6 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 0 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subscale score range (higher scores indicate higher levels of the respective subscale construct): 0 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Alpha coefficients range from .70 to .90 for the subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.