Sexual History Questionnaire – SHQ
Assesses sexual behavior, communication during sexual encounters, and perceived risk of HIV infection.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sexual History Questionnaire – SHQ was developed by Caroline Cupitt (1992). It is designed to measure Sexual behavior and HIV risk perception. The scale is intended for use with Adults and college students.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 4 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Sexual Desire and Communication, HIV Risk Perception.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Desire and Communication | 1,2,3 | 3 |
| HIV Risk Perception | 4 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = A Great Deal.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Test-retest reliability > .80 for Section D.
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.