Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire – SSBQ
Measures the frequency of use of recommended practices that reduce risk of exposure to and transmission of HIV.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire – SSBQ was developed by Colleen DiIorio (1992). It is designed to measure HIV risk reduction and safe sex behaviors. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and young adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Condom Use, Risky Behaviors, Avoidance of Bodily Fluids, Avoidance of Anal Sex, Assertiveness.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Condom Use | 1,3,10,14,18 | 5 |
| Risky Behaviors | 2,7,9,22,24 | 5 |
| Avoidance of Bodily Fluids | 5,13,19 | 3 |
| Avoidance of Anal Sex | 15,23 | 2 |
| Assertiveness | 4,6,8,11,12,16,17,20,21 | 9 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Most of the Time, 4 = Always.
The scale includes 9 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 24 to 96. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low frequency of safer-sex practices: 24 – 48
- Moderate frequency of safer-sex practices: 49 – 72
- High frequency of safer-sex practices: 73 – 96
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha of .82.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.