Scale Overview
The Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales—Short Form (SIS/SES-SF) was developed by Deanna L. Carpenter, Erick Janssen, Cynthia A. Graham, Harrie Vorst, Jelte Wicherts (2013). It is designed to measure Sexual Excitation and Sexual Inhibition. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Sexual Excitation (SES), Sexual Inhibition 1 (SIS1), Sexual Inhibition 2 (SIS2).
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Sexual Excitation (SES) |
1,3,8,10,11,14 |
6 |
| Sexual Inhibition 1 (SIS1) |
4,9,12,13 |
4 |
| Sexual Inhibition 2 (SIS2) |
2,5,6,7 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Disagree, 4 = Strongly Disagree.
The scale includes 14 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 6 to 24. Interpretation guidelines:
- SES Score Range (Higher scores indicate higher sexual excitation proneness): 6 – 24
- SIS1 Score Range (Higher scores indicate higher inhibition due to threat of performance failure): 4 – 16
- SIS2 Score Range (Higher scores indicate higher inhibition due to threat of performance consequences): 4 – 16
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Test-retest reliability: SES (r = .61 – .75), SIS1 (r = .61 – .66), SIS2 (r = .63 – .65).
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.