Table of Contents
Sexual Activity Questionnaire
E. SANDRA BYERS,1 University of New Brunswick
Sexual activity occurs on a particular occasion as a result of individual and dyadic processes (see Byers & Heinlein, 1989, Figure 1). The Sexual Activity Questionnaire (SAQ) assesses the frequency of each step of the sequence of behaviors leading up to and during sexual interactions, as well as the specific behaviors used to initiate sexual activity and to respond to a sexual initiation. The SAQ has been used with married and cohabiting partners (Byers & Heinlein, 1989) and with dating partners (O’Sullivan & Byers, 1992). The term sexual activity includes all activities that the subjects experience as sexual, from holding hands to kissing to sexual intercourse. The SAQ could be easily adapted for use by same-sex couples.
Description
The SAQ is administered as a self-monitoring measure. At the end of each day, or as soon after a sexual interaction as possible, participants indicate (a) whether sexual activity had been initiated on that day, and, if so, by the man or by the woman; (b) if sexual activity was initiated, whether the noninitiator’s first response was interest or disinterest in engaging in sexual activity at that time; and (c) if sexual activity was not initiated by either partner, whether the respondent had considered initiating sexual activity. When used with dating, rather than cohabiting, partners, respondents first indicate on each day whether they had been on a “date” (defined as any social situation in which the person was with a member of the other sex).
Participants then provide detailed information about one or more of the sexual initiations that occurred that week. For example, participants can be asked to describe the first sexual initiation by the man and/or by the woman (O’Sullivan & Byers, 1992), the first sexual initiation to which the partner responded positively (if any), and/or the first sexual initiation to which the partner responded negatively (if any; Byers & Heinlein, 1989). For the specified situation(s), respondents indicate the verbal and nonverbal behaviors used to initiate the sexual activity and to respond to the sexual initiation, as well as where the couple was and what they were doing when the initiation occurred. Respondents also indicate, from a list of 22 behaviors, those used by the initiator to demonstrate a desire for sexual activities. For the situation in which the partner initially was not interested in engaging in sexual activity, respondents indicate the reason(s) for the disinterest, how long the disagreement continued, how the disagreement was resolved, and they rate how satisfied they were with their own and their partner’s parts in resolving the disagreement.
They also indicate whether they engaged in sexual activity at that time and, if so, why the initially disinterested person decided to engage in the activity. For the situation in which the partner was initially interested in engaging in the sexual activity, respondents indicate how satisfied they were with the way sex was initiated.
For those situations in which sexual activity resulted from the initiation, respondents indicate the types of sexual activities that resulted and their duration. They also rate how enjoyable the sexual interaction was for themselves and for their partner. Using an open-ended format, respondents are given the opportunity to provide additional information about the interaction they had described. Finally, they rate their confidence in the accuracy of their responses.
Dating partners are asked to provide information about their dating partner that is not included on the marital/ cohabiting form. Questions assess their relationship with their dating partner (type of relationship, number of previous dates), their romantic interest in their date, and their perception of their date’s romantic interest in them before they went on the date, and their own and their date’s roman- tic interest at the end of the evening.
Response Mode and Timing
The SAQ takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Most of the questions are objective. However, participants describe their activities and location at the time of the sexual initiation. Activities are coded for whether the partners are actively interacting. Location is coded as to whether the initiation occurred in a bedroom, other room in the house, or elsewhere. In addition, respondents describe the words and behaviors used to initiate sexual activity and to respond to a partner’s initiation. The categories used to code descriptions of verbal initiations are no verbal initiation, indirect (ambiguous) statement, statement of feelings, and direct statement. Nonverbal initiations are coded as no nonverbal initiation, nonsexual touching or suggestive look, kissing, and sexual fondling. The checklist of 22 initiation behaviors is collapsed into five categories: direct verbal initiation, ambiguous verbal cues, physical contact, sexual cues, and suggestive movements and actions.
Different categories are used to code descriptions of negative and positive responses to initiations. For negative responses to initiations, the verbal responses are coded as no verbal response, verbal refusal without reason, refusal with physical reason, refusal indicating that there was not time, and refusal with a mood-related reason. The nonverbal responses are coded as no physical response, positive response to a lower level of sexual activity only, stopping or not responding to the partner’s sexual advances, and moving away. For positive responses to initiations, the verbal responses are coded as no verbal response, agreement or invitation, and request for clarification. The nonverbal responses are coded as follows: no nonverbal response, initiated sexual activity, and continued sexual interaction. Alternately, ratings of positive and negative responses to initiations can be combined.
Address correspondence to E. Sandra Byers, Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 6E4; e-mail: [email protected]
Reliability
The SAQ has good reliability. Byers and Heinlein (1989) found a mean interrater agreement for the open-ended questions of .86. In general, respondents were moderately or very sure that their responses were accurate (M = 5.5 on a 6-point scale). Eno (1994) found the average agreement between spouses from 36 couples to be .75 for initiations and .90 for responses to initiations. O’Sullivan and Byers (1992) found an average interrater agreement of .87 and an average confidence rating of 5.2, demonstrating good reliability with dating couples.
Validity
There is support for the validity of some aspects of the SAQ. Byers and Heinlein (1989) found that younger
individuals, individuals newer to their relationships, and those who reported greater marital and sexual satisfaction reported more initiations. When the number of initiations was controlled, more negative responses were associated with men and women who experienced less sexual plea- sure, lower sexual satisfaction, and lower dyadic adjustment. Those individuals who had been in the relationship longer, and who reported less sexual pleasure for the woman and less sexual satisfaction, reported considering initiating sex despite not doing so more often. Eno (1994) found significant positive correlations between retrospective measures of the frequency of sexual initiations and positive responses in the week before self-monitoring and self-monitoring measures of these behaviors, (M = .71). O’Sullivan and Byers (1992) found that respondents who had dated more frequently in the month before the study or who were in steady dating relationships reported more sexual initiations.
Sexual Activity Questionnaire (Married/Cohabiting Version)a
Instructions: We are interested in learning more about how couples initiate sexual activities, and how their partners respond to these initiations. By initiation of sexual activities, we mean any word and/or action that one person uses to indicate his or her interest in engaging in sexual activities, at a point in time when the couple is not engaging in any sexual activities. Notice that we are interested in initiations, whether or not any sexual activity results from the initiation. For example, one person may initiate sexual interactions by complimenting his or her partner on his or her looks or using a code phrase that the partner knows indicates sexual interest. Other examples of initiations would be if one person moved closer to their partner or if one person loosened or removed some of his or her own or the partner’s clothing. We are interested in the initiation of all levels of sexual activity from kissing (if you consider it a sexual activity and not an expression of affection) to intercourse.
Please complete the attached questionnaire on a daily basis for one week. It is divided into 3 parts.
Part I. Part I of the questionnaire asks you to indicate, for each day of that particular week, whether either you or your partner initiated sexual activity. You are also asked to indicate for each “initiation” who initiated the sexual activity, and whether the noninitiator’s first response was interest or disinterest in sex. By first response we mean the first thing he or she said or did in response to the initiation. In some cases, the noninitiator’s first response might not be the same as their response a few seconds or minutes later. If sexual activity was not initiated by either partner on that day, please indicate whether you considered initiating and your reasons for not doing so. Further instructions for filling out this part of the questionnaire are on the questionnaire itself.
Part II. Fill in Part II of the questionnaire (the blue sheets) for the first occasion (if any) in that week on which sex was initiated, and the noninitiator’s first response was that he or she was not interested. If no such initiation occurred in your relationship that week, leave this part of the questionnaire blank.
Part III. Fill in Part III of the questionnaire (the yellow sheets) for the first occasion (if any) in that week on which sex was initiated, and
the noninitiator’s first response was that he or she was interested in sex—that is, when both partners were interested from the outset. If no such initiation occurred that week, leave this part of the questionnaire blank.
Since it is easy to forget the specifics of any particular communication or interaction, it is important that you complete Parts II and III of the questionnaire as soon as possible after the initiation occurs. Try to be as accurate as possible in completing the questionnaire.
Definitions:
Sexual Activity: Any activity of a sexual (as opposed to purely affectionate) nature. Thus, this can include anything from kissing and touching to sexual intercourse. “SEX” is not necessarily intercourse.
Initiation: Any communication (verbal or nonverbal) of a “desire” to participate in sexual activity. Sexual activity may or may not follow.
Sexual Initiation Questionnaire
Part I. For each day of the week, please indicate the following (see Instruction Sheet for definitions):
-
Whether sexual activity was initiated.
-
If sexual activity was initiated, indicate whether it was initiated by you or by your partner (male or female). Then indicate what the first response was of the noninitiator. That is, if sex was initiated by you, indicate what your partner’s first response was; if sex was initiated by your partner, indicate what your first response was.
-
If neither you nor your partner initiated sex on that day, indicate if you considered initiating sex but did not do so. If you did change your mind, indicate the reasons for doing so. If sex initiated If sex not initiated
|
Date and day of week |
Was sex initiated? yes |
By whom? woman |
Noninitiator’s first response interested |
Did you consider initiating? yes |
If yes, why didn’t you initiate?
|
|
no yes |
man woman |
uninterested interested |
no yes |
|
|
|
no yes |
man woman |
uninterested interested |
no yes |
|
|
|
no yes |
man woman |
uninterested interested |
no yes |
|
|
|
no yes |
man woman |
uninterested interested |
no yes |
|
|
|
no yes |
man woman |
uninterested interested |
no yes |
|
|
|
no yes |
man woman |
uninterested interested |
no yes |
|
|
|
no |
man |
uninterested |
no |
|
The first of these days on which either you or your partner initiated sex and found that the noninitiator was initially not interested was (write in day of the week). Please fill in Part II of the questionnaire on the blue paper for this occasion.
The first of these days on which either you or your partner initiated sex and found that the noninitiator was initially interested (write in day of the week). Please fill in Part III of the questionnaire on the yellow paper for this occasion.
Part II. Complete Questions 1–14 (blue paper) if either you or your partner initiated sexual activity and the first response of the non- initiator was that he or she was not interested.
- At the time of the initiation, where were you and your partner (e.g., in the kitchen of our home)?
- Briefly describe the main thing(s) you and your partner were doing prior to the initiation (e.g. reading, talking).
- The noninitiator indicated a desire for sexual activity by saying: doing:
- The noninitiator responded to the initiator’s initial advances by: saying: doing:
- The initiator then responded to this reaction by: saying: doing:
- How long did the disagreement continue? minutes
- How was the disagreement resolved?
- (a) How satisfied are you with how sexual activity was initiated?
very satisfied
satisfied
neutral
dissatisfied
very satisfied
(b) Why?
- (a) Overall, how satisfied are you with how the disagreement was resolved?
very satisfied
satisfied
neutral
dissatisfied
very dissatisfied
b) Why?
- What behaviors did the initiator use to demonstrate a desire for sexual activities? (Check all that apply.)
asked directly
used some code words
with which the man was
familiar
used pet names
used more eye contact
removed or loosened clothing played with man’s hair lay down changed tone of voice made indirect talk of sex set mood atmosphere
touched her date (music, lighting, etc.)
massaged or stroked played games or light
snuggled or cuddled “rough-housing”
kissed date
shared a drink
moved closer
talked about the relationship
used “suggestive” body movements or postures
made compliments used some force allowed hand to wander looked at sexual material others:
- If you did engage in sexual activities at that time,
- Why did the person who was initially not interested decide to have sex?
- Which behaviors did you and your partner engage in at that time (check all that apply)?
hugging, cuddling
kissing
necking
fondling or kissing breast
fondling woman’s genitals
fondling man’s genitals
oral-genital stimulation
coitus
other (please specify)
-
About how long did you and your partner spend in sexual activity at that time? minutes
- How enjoyable was this occasion of love-making for you?
extremely unpleasant
moderately unpleasant
slightly unpleasant
slightly pleasant
moderately pleasant
extremely pleasant
- How enjoyable do you think this occasion of love-making was for your partner?
extremely unpleasant
moderately unpleasant
slightly unpleasant
slightly pleasant
moderately pleasant
extremely pleasant
- If you did not engage in sexual activity at that time,
- was sex initiated again later that day? yes no
- If yes, by whom? the man the woman mutual consent
- If there is any additional information that would help us to understand the situation that you described above, please provide it.
- How confident are you that your responses are accurate?very unsure
moderately unsure
slightly unsure
slightly sure
moderately sure
very sure
Part III. Complete Questions 15–25 (yellow paper) if either you or your partner initiated sexual activity and the first response of the noninitiator was that he or she was interested.
- At the time of the initiation, where were you and your partner (e.g., in the kitchen of our home)?
- Briefly describe the main thing(s) you and your partner were doing prior to the initiation (e.g. reading, talking).
- The initiator indicated a desire for sexual activity by: saying: doing:
- The noninitiator responded to the initiator’s initial advances by: saying: doing:
- (a) How satisfied are you with how sexual activity was initiated?
very satisfied
satisfied
neutral
dissatisfied
very dissatisfied
(b) Why?
- What behaviors did the initiator use to demonstrate a desire for sexual activities? (Check all that apply.)
asked directly
used some code words
with which the man was
familiar
used pet names
used more eye contact
removed or loosened clothing played with man’s hair lay down changed tone of voice made indirect talk of sex set mood atmosphere
touched her date (music, lighting, etc.)
massaged or stroked played games or light
snuggled or cuddled “rough-housing”
kissed date
shared a drink
moved closer
talked about the relationship
used “suggestive” body movements or postures
made compliments used some force allowed hand to wander
looked at sexual material
others:
- Did you and your partner engage in sexual activity at that time?
yes no
- If you did have sex at that time,
- which sexual behaviors did you and your partner engage in (check all that apply)?
hugging, cuddling
kissing
necking
fondling or kissing breast
fondling woman’s genitals
fondling man’s genitals
oral-genital stimulation
coitus
others (please specify)
- About how long did you and your partner spend in sexual activity at that time ……………….. minutes
- How enjoyable was this occasion of love-making for you?
extremely unpleasant
moderately unpleasant
slightly unpleasant
slightly pleasant
moderately pleasant
extremely pleasant
- How enjoyable do you think this occasion of love-making was for your partner?
extremely unpleasant
moderately unpleasant
slightly unpleasant
slightly pleasant
moderately pleasant
extremely pleasant
- If you did not engage in sexual activity at that time,
- was sex initiated again later that day? yes no
- If yes, by whom? the man the woman mutual consent
- If there is any additional information that would help us to understand the situation that you described above, please provide it.
- How confident are you that your responses are accurate?
very unsure
moderately unsure
slightly unsure
slightly sure
moderately sure
very sure
References
Byers, E. S., & Heinlein, L. (1989. Predicting initiations and refusals of sexual activity in married and cohabiting heterosexual couples. The Journal of Sex Research, 26, 210–231.
Eno, R. (1994). Factors related to sexual initiations and responses to initiations within long-term heterosexual relationships. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton.
O’Sullivan, L. F., & Byers, E. S. (1992). College students’ incorporation of initiator and restrictor roles in sexual dating interactions. The Journal of Sex Research, 29, 435–446.
This version of the questionnaire is designed to be completed by cohabiting partners. The questionnaire can be modified for use by dating couples.