Worry About Sexual Outcomes Scale – WASO
Measures adolescents' worry regarding outcomes of risky sexual behavior, specifically STI/HIV infection and unintended pregnancy.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Worry About Sexual Outcomes Scale – WASO was developed by Jessica McDermott Sales, Robin R. Milhausen, Josh Spitalnick, Ralph J. DiClemente (2008). It is designed to measure Worry about sexual outcomes. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: STI/HIV Worry, Pregnancy Worry.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| STI/HIV Worry | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | 8 |
| Pregnancy Worry | 9,10 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Often, 4 = Always.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 10 to 40. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Worry: 10 – 20
- Moderate Worry: 21 – 30
- High Worry: 31 – 40
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha > .90.
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.