Sexual Attitudes Scale is a 43-item measure of attitudes held regarding sexual permissiveness, sexual practices, communion, and instrumentality.
Geographies Tested: United States of America
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adolescents, Adults
Permissiveness
1. I do not need to be committed
to a person to have sex with
him/her.
2. Casual sex is acceptable.
3. I would like to have sex with
many partners.
4. One-night stands are sometimes very enjoyable.
5. It is okay to have ongoing
sexual relationships with more
than one person at a time.
6. It is okay to manipulate someone into having sex as long as
no future promises are made.
7. Sex as a simple exchange of
favors is okay if both people
agree to it.
8. The best sex is with no strings
attached.
9. Life would have fewer problems
if people could have sex more
freely.
10. It is possible to enjoy sex with
a person and not like that
person very much.
11. Sex is more fun with someone
you don't love.
12. It is all right to pressure someone into having sex.
13. Extensive premarital sexual experience is
fine.
14. Extramarital affairs are all
right as long as one's partner
doesn't know about them.
15. Sex for its own sake is perfectly all right.
16. I would feel comfortable having
intercourse with my partner in
the presence of other people.
17. Prostitution is
acceptable.
18. It is okay for sex to
be just good physical release.
19. Sex without love is meaningless.
20. People should at least be
friends before they have sex
together.
21. In order for sex to be good, it
must also be meaningful.
Sexual Practices
22. Birth control is part of responsible sexuality.
23. A woman should share responsibility for birth control.
24. A man should share responsibility for birth control.
25. Sex education
is important for young people.
26. Using
"sex toys" during lovemaking
is acceptable.
27. Masturbation is all right.
28. Masturbating one's partner
during intercourse can increase
the pleasure of sex.
Communion
29. Sex
gets better as a relationship
progresses.
30. Sex is the closest form of communication between two people.
31. A sexual encounter between
two people deeply in love is the
ultimate human interaction.
32. Orgasm is the greatest experience in the world.
33. At its best, sex seems to be the
merging of two souls.
34. Sex is a very important
part of life.
35. Sex is usually an intensive,
almost overwhelming experience.
36. During sexual intercourse, intense awareness of the partner is the best frame of mind.
37. Sex is fundamentally good.
Instrumentality
38. Sex is best when you let yourself go and focus on your own
pleasure.
39. Sex is primarily the taking of
pleasure from another person.
40. The main purpose of sex is to
enjoy oneself.
41. Sex is primarily physical.
42. Sex is primarily a bodily function, like eating.
43. Sex is mostly a game between
males and females.
Response Options:
Strongly agree - 1
Moderately agree - 2
Neutral - 3
Moderately disagree - 4
Strongly disagree - 5
Total scale and subscale scores are sums of all responses.
Hendrick, S., & Hendrick, C. (1987). Multidimensionality of sexual attitudes. Journal of Sex Research, 23(4), 502-526. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224498709551387
Psychometric Score
Ease of Use Score
Qualitative Research
Existing Literature/Theoretical Framework
Field Expert Input
Cognitive Interviews / Pilot Testing
Internal
Test-retest
Interrater
Content
Face
Criterion (gold-standard)
Construct
Readability
Scoring Clarity
Length
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