Scale Overview
The Sexuality Scale – SS was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. & Dennis R. Papini (1989). It is designed to measure Sexual esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Sexual Esteem, Sexual Depression, Sexual Preoccupation.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Sexual Esteem |
1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25,28 |
10 |
| Sexual Depression |
2,5,8,17,20,23,26,29 |
8 |
| Sexual Preoccupation |
3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30 |
10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 2 = Agree, 1 = Slightly agree, 0 = Neither agree nor disagree, -1 = Slightly disagree, -2 = Disagree.
The scale includes 13 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 -20 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- Sexual Esteem Range (Higher scores indicate greater sexual esteem): -20 – 20
- Sexual Depression Range (Higher scores indicate greater sexual depression): -16 – 16
- Sexual Preoccupation Range (Higher scores indicate greater sexual preoccupation): -20 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha: Sexual Esteem = .92-.93; Sexual Depression = .88-.94; Sexual Preoccupation = .79-.88.
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.