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The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire: An Objective

Self-Report Measure of Psychological Tendencies Associated
With Human Sexuality

Article  in  Sexual Abuse A Journal of Research and Treatment · March 1993

DOI: 10.1007/BF00849744

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 THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL SEXUALITY

QUESTIONNAIRE: AN OBJECTIVE SELF-REPORT

MEASURE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL T E N D E N C I E S

ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN SEXUALITY

William E. Snell, Jr., PhD.,

Southeast Missouri State University,
Terrl D. Fisher, PhD.,
The Ohio State University-Mansfield
&

Andrew S. Waiters, PhD.,

University of Georgia

Annals of Sex Research

 ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present investigation was to deve10p a n d validate a n
objective self-report instrument, the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire
(MSQ), designed to m e a s u r e psychological t e n d e n c i e s associated with sexual
relationships. Results indicated t h a t the MSQ s u b s c a l e s h a d high internal
consistency, test-retest reliability, a n d were largely i n d e p e n d e n t of social
desirability tendencies. Other results indicated that women and m e n responded
in unique ways to the MSQ, with women reporting greater sexual-fear and m e n
reporting greater sexual-esteem, s e x u a l - p r e o c c u p a t i o n , sexual-motivation,
sexual-assertiveness, and external-sexual-control, Additional evidence for the
concurrent, discriminant, and convergent validity of the MSQ was found: the
MSQ was associated not only with women's and men's sexual attitudes and their
exchange and c o m m u n a l approaches to sexual relations, but also with their
scores on other i n s t r u m e n t s conceptually similar to= the MSQ. Men's a n d
women's sexual behaviors were also predictably related to their scores on the
MSQ subscales. The discussion focuses on research and applied uses of the
Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire.

Snell, W.E., Jr., Fisher, T.D., & Waiters, A.S. (1993). The Multidimensional
Sexuality Questionnaire: An objective self-report measure of psychological
tendencies associated with human sexuality. Anna/s o f Sex Research, 6,- 27-55.
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 29

During the past two decades considerable attention has been directed toward
the study of psychological tendencies that influence individuals' sexual relations
(see AUgeier & Allgeier, 1991, for an overview). This work has included such
sex-specific topics as sexual-anxiety (Janda & O'Grady, 1980), sex-guilt (Mosher,
1965, 1966, 1973, 1979a; Mosher & O'Grady, 1979), myths about male sexuality
(Snell, Belk, & Hawkins, 1986b, 1990; Snell, Hawkins, & Belk, 1988), sexual
attitudes (Barley, Hendrick, & Hendrick, 1987; Fisher & Hall, 1988; Hendrick &
Hendrick, 1987; Hendrick, Hendrick, Slapion-Foote, & Foote, 1985), rape myths
(Burt, 1980), sexual disclosure (Fisher, 1986, 1987; Herold & Way, 1988; Snell,
Belk, Papini, & Clark, 1989), rape attitudes (Larsen & Long, 1988), sexual
awareness (Abrahamson, Barlow, & Beck, 1985; Beck, Barlow, & Sakheim, 1983;
Snell, Fisher, & Miller, 1991), sexual-esteem (Snell & Papini, 1989), and AIDS
discussion strategies (Snell & Finney, 1990).
In addition, professionals have examined the impact of several personality-
related tendencies on sexual feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Snyder and his
colleagues (1974, 1979; Snyder, Simpson, & Gangestad, 1986) have found that
self-monitoring--defined as the dispositional tendency to be concerned about,
and responsive to, the social appropriateness of one's behavior--influences
whether people approach their sexual relations from a n unrestricted perspective
(i.e., a willingness to have sex even if they do not know the partner very well)
versus a restricted orientation (i.e., where they must feel committed to and close
to a sexual partner). High self-monitors, for example adopt an unrestricted
orientation toward their sexual relations, both in terms of the attitudes they
express and the behaviors they exhibit. Low self-monitors, by contrast, adopt a
restricted orientation in which they feel committed and close to their sexual
partners. More recently, Simpson and Gangestad (1991a, 1991b, 1992) have
developed and validated the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, an instrument
more specifically designed to identify individuals with restricted and unrestricted
orientations toward sex. Byrne, Fisher, and their colleagues (Byme, 1983; Fisher,
Byme, White, & Kelley, 1988; Fisher & Gray, 1988) have also recently pursued
similar research on psychological tendencies, investigating the impact of eroto-
phobic-erotophilic tendencies on sexual relations. Erotophobic individuals are
those who have negative feelings about sex, while erotophilic people have
positive feelings about sex. Research indicates that these affective responses to
sexuality sometimes mediate persons' responses to a wide variety of sexual
topics. Erotophilic versus erotophobic women, for example, report greater
sexual interest, activity, and satisfaction during pregnancy (Fisher & Gray, 1988).
Janda and O'Grady (1980) have also pursued research on individual psychological
tendencies associated with sexual relations, through the development of an
instrument designed to measure dispositional sexual anxiety. Their results
indicate that people with greater sexual anxiety report fewer sexual experiences.
Mosher's (1966, 1968, 1979a, 1979b) work on sex-guilt is probably one of the most
30 Snell, Fisher, & Waiters

well k n o w n p r o g r a m m a t i c efforts designed to examine the i m p a c t of a specific

psychological tendency (i.e., sex-guilt) on h u m a n sexuality. His research indicates
t h a t sex-guilt predicts w h e t h e r college s t u d e n t s adhere to a variety of m y t h s
about h u m a n sexuality (Mosher, 1979a), and the literature on this c o n s t r u c t also
indicates that sex-guilt is associated with less sexual experience in college m e n
a n d w o m e n (Mosher, 1968). As all this research indicates, individual psycholog-
ical t e n d e n c i e s s u c h as self-monitoring, e r o t o p h o b i a , s e x u a l - a n x i e t y , a n d
sex-guilt clearly play a n important role in mediating m e n ' s a n d w o m e n ' s sexual
relations.
The purpose of the present program of research was to broaden the scope of this
"psychological, individual tendency" approach to the s t u d y of h u m a n sexuality by
c o n s t r u c t i n g a n d validating a m u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l m e a s u r e of psychological
c o n s t r u c t s associated with m e n ' s a n d Women's sexual relations. To accomplish
this goal, the literature on sexuality was c a n v a s s e d to identify those tendencies
t h a t seemed to have t h e greatest likelihood of impacting the sexual a s p e c t s ol
m e n ' s a n d w o m e n ' s lives. Table 1 s h o w s a list of t h e c o n s t r u c t s (and their
definitions) which were identified in this review.
After t h e s e psychological c o n c e p t s were c h o s e n for investigation, items
designed to m e a s u r e each construct were written a n d assembled in questionnaire
form. Data were t h e n collected on the items constituting the respective subscales,
a n d t h e r e s u l t i n g i n s t r u m e n t w a s labeled t h e M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l Sexuality
Questionnaire (MSQ). The present research reports preliminary evidence for the
reliability (both internal consistency a n d test-retest) a n d validity of t h e MSQ.
Initial evidence for t h e validity of the MSQ w a s obtained in the c u r r e n t research
by using Hendrick a n d Hendrick's (1987) m e a s u r e of sex a t t i t u d e s a n d H u g h e s
and Snell's (1990) m e a s u r e of c o m m u n a l and exchange approaches toward sexual
relationships. Convergent validity w a s e x a m i n e d by correlating t h e MSQ with
i n s t r u m e n t s m e a s u r i n g similar psychological concepts: t h e Sexuality Scale
(Snell & Papim, 1989; Wiederman & AUgeier, 1993; Hurlbert & Apt, 1991) a n d the
Sexual Awareness Questionnaire (Snell et al., 1991). The issue of w h e t h e r the
various psychological t e n d e n c i e s a s s e s s e d by t h e Multidimensional Sexuality
Questionnaire would be predictive of people's actual sexual behaviors was also
addressed in the present investigation by using two separate m e a s u r e s of sexual
behaviors, t h e Cowart-Steckler Scale of Sexual Experience (Cowart-Steckler &
Pollack, 1988) a n d the H u m a n Sexuality Questionnaire (Zuckerman, 1988).
It w a s anticipated t h a t the sexual t e n d e n c i e s a s s e s s e d by t h e MSQ would
influence w h e t h e r people take c o m m u n a l a n d / o r exchange orientations toward
their sexual relations, as well as w h e t h e r t h e y would endorse a variety of sex
attitudes (Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987). Specifically, it was expected t h a t several
MSQ subscales would be associated with a n unrestricted orientation toward sex.
In particular, it w a s predicted t h a t individuals who are relatively o b s e s s e d by
sexual matters (i.e., sexual preoccupation) a n d those who view the sexual aspects
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 31

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)-i

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32 Snell, Fisher, & Walters

of their life as being controlled by external c h a n c e factors (i.e., external-sexual-

control) would adopt a n u n r e s t r i c t e d orientation to sex, m a n i f e s t e d b o t h as a n
e x c h a n g e a p p r o a c h to sex (Hughes & Snell, 1990) a n d as p e r m i s s i v e a n d
instrumental sex attitudes. By contrast, other MSQ subscales were expected to be
r e l a t e d positively to a c o m m i t t e d , m o r e restrictive o r i e n t a t i o n to s e x u a l
relations. More specifically, it w a s anticipated t h a t people with greater sexual-
esteem, internal-sexual-control, and sexual-consciousness would approach
their sexual relations n o t only from a n a p p r o a c h w h i c h e m p h a s i z e d m u t u a l
caring a n d concern (i.e., a c o m m u n a l approach), b u t that they would also express
sex attitudes consistent with t h a t view (e.g., a belief in sex as t h e merging of two
souls.).
A final expectation w a s t h a t several MSQ sexual t e n d e n c i e s w o u l d predict
w o m e n ' s a n d m e n ' s history of sexual activity. In particular, it w a s expected that
sexual-esteem, sexual-motivation, a n d sexual-assertiveness would be associated
with a more intensive history of engaging in a variety of sexual interactions a n d
behaviors. These predictions were b a s e d on t h e rationale (a) t h a t individuals
with a positive view of t h e m s e l v e s as sexual beings would feel m o r e confident
a b o u t engaging in sexual relations with others, (b) t h a t t h o s e with a strong
motivation for sex would translate their u r g e s i n t o actual sexual behaviors, a n d
(c) t h a t sexually assertive i n d i v i d u a l s w o u l d p o s s e s s t h e w h e r e w i t h a l a n d
self-reliance to initiate sexual relations with others.

METHOD

Research Participants and Procedure

D a t a were collected f r o m t h r e e s e p a r a t e s a m p l e s of p a r t i c i p a n t s w h o
volunteered to participate in a research s t u d y on h u m a n sexuality as a n option
for partially fulfilling c o u r s e r e q u i r e m e n t s .
Sample I. Sample I c o n s i s t e d of u n d e r g r a d u a t e s from a small Midwestern
university (117 males; 265 females; 4 gender-unspecified). The average age of the
sample was 24.1, with a range of 17 to 60. These participants first r e s p o n d e d to
t h e Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ), a n d t h e n they were asked
to complete a variety of other i n s t r u m e n t s , including (a) H u g h e s a n d Snell's
(1990) m e a s u r e of c o m m u n a l a n d exchange approaches toward sex; (b) Snell a n d
Papini's (1989) m e a s u r e of s e x u a l - e s t e e m , sexual d e p r e s s i o n , a n d sexual-
p r e o c c u p a t i o n ; (c) Snell et al.'s (1991) m e a s u r e of s e x u a l - c o n s c i o u s n e s s ,
sexual-monitoring, sex-appeal-consciousness, a n d sexual-assertiveness; a n d (d)
Hendrick and Hendrick's (1987) m e a s u r e of sex attitudes.
Sample II. The participants from Sample II consisted of 125 s t u d e n t s from a
regional c a m p u s of a major Midwestern University (68 females; 57 males) who
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 33

volunteered to participate in the s t u d y as a n option toward completing a course

requirement. The average age of the participants was 20.4, with a range of 18 to
46. During this s t u d y the s t u d e n t s completed the Multidimensional Sexuality
Questionnaire (MSQ) a n d a m e a s u r e of social desirability (Crowne & Marlowe,
1961). Approximately three weeks later t h e y were re-administered the MSQ a
second time. During this second administration, the participants were also
asked to indicate the basis of their responses at time 1 and time 2 (i.e., either a
c u r r e n t or a past relationship), and t h e y were also given the opportunity to
indicate w h e t h e r they h a d ever had a sexual relationship.
Sample III. The participants in this sample consisted of 190 s t u d e n t s from a
large S o u t h e a s t e r n university (72 males; 118 females) enrolled in an upper level
psychology course who received credit for completing a course requirement. The
average age of the p a r t i c i p a n t s was 21 with a range of 18-33 years. Six
participants reported their marital s t a t u s as "married" or "divorced." These
c a s e s were eliminated from the analyses, t h u s leaving only n e v e r - m a r r i e d
participants in the sample. In addition, since the m e a s u r e s in the p r e s e n t
sample involved heterosexual behaviors (described below), 40 participants (12
males; 28 females) who h a d engaged in any homosexual behavior were removed
from the main analyses (but combined results are reported below). This produced
a sample of 150 heterosexual s t u d e n t s (60 males; 90 females). All participants
completed three instruments: the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire, the
Cowert-Pollack Scale of Sexual Experience (1948), and the Z u c k e r m a n H u m a n
Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e (1988). The participants in all three s.amples were
t h a n k e d and debriefed at the end of each investigation.

Instruments

Development of the MSQ. A set of items Was written for the 12 subscales on the
Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ). The items for each of these
subscales were written in accord with the definitions of the 12 concepts shown in
Table 1, with some of the item stems and statements being derived in part from the
references also displayed in this table. The first author narrowed down the initial
pool of items to a set of 5 s t a t e m e n t s for each group, and t h e n a n objective
self-report questionnaire was prepared. For each item on this questionnaire, a
5-point Likert scale was used to assess the participants' responses, with each item
being scored from 0 to 4: not at all characteristic of me (0), slightly characteristic
of m e (i), somewhat characteristic of me (2), moderately characteristic of me (3),
and very characteristic of me (4). In order to create subscale scores, four items were
first reverse-coded: items 19, 31, 47, and 50. Then, the items on each subscale (see
Appendix I) were s u m m e d (subscale range = 0 to 20). Higher scores t h u s
corresponded to greater amounts of each of the respective sexual tendencies.
34 Snell, Fisher, Waiters

Sexual Awareness Questionnaire. The Sexual Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ;

Snell et al., 1991) was designed to a s s e s s the following psychological aspects of
h u m a n sexuality: a t t e n t i o n to internal private bodily s e n s a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e d
with sexual a r o u s a l a n d m o t i v a t i o n (referred to as sexual-consciousness);
e x t e m a l public c o n c e m with other's impressions about one's sexuality (referred
to as sexual-monitoring); a n d individual alertness to other's perception t h a t one
is sexy (referred to as sex-appeal-consciousness). In addition, the SAQ includes a
subscale designed to m e a s u r e sexual-assertiveness, the dispositional t e n d e n c y to
act a n d behave in a n i n d e p e n d e n t , self-reliant fashion c o n c e r n i n g one's own
sexuality. Snell et al. (1991) reported alphas ranging from .79 to .92 for the SAQ
subscales. Higher scores on the SAQ subscales corresponded to greater a m o u n t of
each of the respective tendencies,
Sexuality Scale (SS). Snell a n d Papini' (1989) developed t h e Sexuality Scale to
m e a s u r e three dispositional tendencies associated with h u m a n sexuality: sexual
-esteem, the dispositional t e n d e n c y to evaluate positively one's capacity to relate
sexually to others; sexual-depression, the chronic tendency to feel depressed about
the sexual aspects of one's life, and sexual-preoccupation, the persistent t e n d e n c y
to be absorbed with and obsessed with sex. Reliabilities (i.e., Cronbach alphas) for
the subscales ranged from a low of .79 to a high of .94 in the original study (Snell &
Papini, 1989} a n d from a low of .85 to a high of .93 in other work (Snell, Fisher, &
S c h u h , 1992). Higher scores on the SS subscales corl:esponded to greater sexual-
esteem, sexual-depression, a n d sexual-preoccupation, respectively.
Communal and Exchange Sexual Orientations. Hughes and Snell (1990) created
t h e Sexual Relationship Scale (SRS) to m e a s u r e (a) communal a p p r o a c h e s to
sexual relations, defined as being c o n c e r n e d with relating sexually to a n o t h e r
person based on m u t u a l caring and concern for the other's sexual satisfaction and
based on a concern for t h a t person's sexual n e e d s a n d desires, a n d (b) exchange
approaches to sexual relationships, defined as one t h a t involves a quid pro quo
approach to sex where sexual p a r t n e r s keep t r a c k of the sexual activities a n d
favors they do for their partner, expecting to be repaid at some future time in the
relationship (cf. Clark, Milberg, Ouellette, & PoweU, 1987; Clark, OueUette,
Powell, & Milberg, 1987; Clark, Taraban, Ho, & Wesner, 1989). Reliability for the
exchange and communal subscales were .67 and.78 (Hughes & Snell, 1990). Higher
scores corresponded to greater c o m m u n a l a n d exchange approaches, respectively,
toward sex.
Sex Attitudes. Hendrick and Hendrick (1987) developed the Sex Attitudes Scale
as a multidimensional m e a s u r e of the following sex attitudes (Barley, Hendrick,
& Hendrick, 1987): permissiveness, defined as a belief in casual, guilt-free sex
(e.g., casual sex is acceptable); sexual practices, defined as a belief in responsible
b u t n o n j u d g m e n t a l sex (e.g., birth control is part of responsible sexuality);
commun/an, defined as a belief in idealized sex (e.g., at its best, sex seems to be the
merging of two souls); and/nstrumenta//ty, defined as a belief in manipulative sex
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 35

(e.g., t h e m a i n p u r p o s e of sex is to enjoy oneself). The internal reliabilities for the

s u b s c a l e s averaged .82 (Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987). Higher scores indicated
greater agreement with each attitude.
Social Desirability. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS;
Crowne & Marlowe, 1961) is a m e a s u r e of t h e t e n d e n c y to give socially desirable
r e s p o n s e s to items on testing i n s t r u m e n t s . Higher scores on the MCSDS corre-
sponded to the tendency to give socially desirable responses.
Cowert-Pollack Scale of Sexual Experience. The Cowert-Pollack Scale of
Sexual Experience (C-PSSE; Cowert-Steckler & Pollack, 1988) consists of two gen-
der-specific 30 item checklists of heterosexual activity. Each scale lists a variety
of sexual activities ranging from exposure to erotica sold openly at n e w s s t a n d s to
observation of a n u d e p a r t n e r to anal intercourse. Test-retest reliability for the
male and female scales are reported as .88 a n d .87, respectively. Higher scores on
the C-PSSE corresponded to greater diversity in heterosexual sexual activity.
Zuckerman Human Sexuality Questionnaire. T h e Z u c k e r m a n H u m a n
Sexuality Questionnaire (ZHSQ; Z u c k e r m a n , 1988) is a 14 item scale designed to
m e a s u r e c u m u l a t i v e h e t e r o s e x u a l (and homosexual) experience. The sexual
experience items for the heterosexual version of t h e ZHSQ (used in t h e p r e s e n t
investigation) r a n g e d from kissing to coitus in various positions. Higher scores
on the ZHSQ corresponded to a more extensive history of heterosexual experience.
Reproducibility coefficients for males a n d females are.93 a n d .94, respectively.
Test-retest reliability over a 15-week period h a s b e e n reported as .94 for males
a n d .95 for females (Zuckerman, 1988).

RESULTS
The r e s u l t s are p r e s e n t e d in several sections. Section one d e s c r i b e s t h e
psychometric properties of t h e Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire. The
next section p r e s e n t s MSQ scores for m a l e s a n d females, as well as o t h e r
gender-related results. Section three t h e n p r e s e n t s evidence for t h e c o n c u r r e n t
validity of t h e MSQ. (The n u m b e r of p a r t i c i p a n t s occasionally varies in t h e
analyses associated with these three samples due to missing data on a few items.)

Psychometric Results
Reliability. The C r o n b a c h alpha coefficients for t h e s u b s c a l e s on t h e Multi-
d i m e n s i o n a l Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e are reported in Table 2 (Sample I). An
inspection of Table 2 indicates t h a t the subscales on t h e MSQ have high internal
consistency. Specifically, t h e a l p h a s r a n g e d from a low of .71 for t h e Sexual-
C o n s c i o u s n e s s Scale to a high of .94 for the Sexual-Preoccupation Scale (average
alpha = .85).
36 Snell, Fisher, & Walters

Table 2
Alphas and Means on the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire
Scales for M~tles and Females

MSQ Cronbach Gender

Scale Alpha F
Coefficients Males Females (1,369)

1. Sexual-Esteem ,87 13.93 12.41 10.89"***

2. Sexual-Preoccupation ,94 7.76 3.41 87.36****

3. Internal-Sexual-Control .80 13.24 13.30 < 1.0

4. Sexual-Consciousness ,71 13.70 13.41 <1.0

5. Sexual-Motivation ,91 12.06 8.42 41.78'***

6. Sexual-Anxiety .83 5.68 5.25 <1.0

7. Sexual-Assertiveness .77 11.41 10.24 5.99*

8. Sexual-Depression ,92 3.88 3.89 <1.0

9. External-Sexual-Control 86 4.99 3.44 11.73"***

10. Sexual-Monitoring .90 5.80 5.76 <i.0

11. Fear-of-Sexual Relations .82 6.53 8.63 14.83'***

12. Sexual Satisfaction .90 12.53 12.95 <1.0

N o t e : * p < . 0 5 , ** p < . 0 1 , *** p < . 0 0 5 , **** p < . 0 0 1 . H i g h e r s c o r e s o n t h e MSQ sub-

scales correspond to a greater amount of the relevant sexual tendency. Subscale
s c o r e r a n g e = 0 t o 2 0 . N for m a l e s = 1 1 4 ; for f e m a l e s , n = 2 5 7 . M A N O V A - F ( 1 2 , 3 5 8 )
= 10.43, p < .001.

In addition to internal consistency, we c o m p u t e d estimates of test-retest

reliability for the 12 subscales on the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire
using the subjects in Sample II. The results a r e presented in Table 3. As an
inspection of this table indicates, the test-retest coefficients ranged from a low
of .50 for external-sexual-control (for males) to a high of .86 for sexual-esteem (for
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 37

Table 3
Reliability and Social Desirability Results for the
Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire Scales
MSQ T e s t - R e t e s t Reliabilities Social Desirability
Scales
All Males Females Consistent Inconsistent All Males Females

1. S e x u a l - E s t e e m .85 .78 .86 .87 .82 .02 .01 .05

2. S e x u a l - P r e o c c u p a t i o n .73 .69 .68 .83 .66 -. 13 -.22 -.05
3. I n t e r n a l - S e x u a l - C o n t r o l .63 .61 .67 .61 .66 .13 .19 .09
4. S e x u a l - C o n s c i o u s n e s s .75 .68 .79 .75 .53 .10 .12 .09
5. S e x u a l - M o t i v a t i o n .83 .83 .82 .84 .80 -.29** -.33* -.26*
6. S e x u a l - A n x i e t y .64 .58 .68 .68 .35 -. 10 -.09 -.09
7. S e x u a l - A s s e r t i v e n e s s .65 .59 .73 .67 .61 .05 -.09 .18
8. S e x u a l - D e p r e s s i o n .70 .71 .68 .77 .17 -.22a -.12 -.31"
9. E x t e r n a l - S e x u a l - C o n t r o l .68 .63 .72 .61 .66 -.13 -.23 -.64
10. S e x u a l Monitoring .69 .69 .70 .68 .72 -.09 .14 -.26*
11. F e a r - o f - S e x u a l - R e l a t i o n s .67 .62 .66 .64 .84 -.03 .11 -.12
12. S e x u a l Satisfaction .76 .80 .73 .80 .55 .13 .12 .13

Note:. * p < .05, ** p < .01.

females). In addition, Table 3 indicates a pattern of generally stronger test-retest

reliabilities on the MSQ subscales for individuals whose relationship status was
the same for both MSQ administrations (e.g., being a virgin at both time 1 a n d
time 2): alphas ranging from a low of .61 to a high of .87, with an average of .72 for
the entire sample. In s u m m a r y , the m e a s u r e s of internal reliability were
consistently m o d e r a t e in m a g n i t u d e , as were the majority of the test-retest
reliability coefficients.
Social Desirability. The 12 s u b s c a l e s on the Multidimensional Sexuality •
Questionnaire were correlated with the MCSDS (Crowne & Marlowe, 1961) to
determine w h e t h e r the subscales on the MSQ were c o n t a m i n a t e d by social
desirability r e s p o n s e t e n d e n c i e s . Only a few correlation coefficients were
significant: Sexual-Motivation correlated negatively with the MCSDS for males
a n d females, separately a n d in combination. Additionally, social desirability
was negatively associated with sexual-depression and sexual-monitoring among
females (see Table 3). However, these correlations explained less t h a n 11% of the
possible variance, and t h u s it seems reasonable to conclude that there is relatively
little social desirability influence on the r e s p o n s e s to the Multidimensional
Sexuality Questionnaire.
Intercorrelations. The correlations a m o n g the 12 subscales on the Multidi-
mensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ) are shown in Table 4, separately for
m a l e s a n d females. An inspection of this table indicates t h a t a diversity of
findings were found, s u c h t h a t some of the MSQ s u b s c a l e s were positively
correlated (e.g., External-Sexual-Control and Sexual-Depression) while others
38 Snell, Fisher, & Waiters

Table 4
Correlations of the Scales on the MSQ Among Females and Males

MSQ Scales 1 2 3 4 5 6

1. Sexual-Esteem .00 .14 .36+ .21" .22"* -.39++

2. Sexual-Preoccupation .07 .00 -.01 .20* .68++ .46++
3. Internal-Sexual-Control .37+ .01 .00 .47++ .14 -.28++
4. Sexual-Consciousness .41+ .22++ .57++ .00 .30++ -.04
5. Sexual-Motivation .51++ .41++ .23++ .42++ .00 .25*
6. Sexual-Anxiety .49++ .28++ -.22++ -.01" .00
7. Sexual-Assertiveness .59++ .12" .32++ .29++ .49++ -.47++
8. Sexual-Depression -.41++ .27++ -.27++ -.08 -.09 .75++
9. External-Sexual-Control -.23++ .27++ -.27++ -.08 -.09 .40++
10. Sexual-Monitoring -.22++ .28++ -.03 .12" -.09 .40++
I I. Fear-of-Sexual Relations -.51++ -.01 -.08 -.I0 -.48++ .54++
12. Sexual Satisfaction .56++ -. 11 .38++ .28++ .26++ -.58++
If"

Note: * p < .05; ** p < .01; + p < .005; ++ p < .OOl. Higher s c o r e s o n the MSQ corre-
s p o n d to a greater a m o u n t o f t h e r e l e v a n t s e x u a l t e n d e n c y . Data for m a l e s are
above t h e diagonal; data for f e m a l e s are b e l o w t h e diagonal. N = 1 1 4 - 1 1 5 for males;
n = 2 6 0 - 2 6 2 for females.

were negatively a s s o c i a t e d with one a n o t h e r (e.g., S e x u a l - E s t e e m a n d Sexual-

Anxiety). Additionally, it w a s f o u n d t h a t a n u m b e r of t h e MSQ s u b s c a l e s w e r e
totally i n d e p e n d e n t of each other (e.g., S e x u a l - E s t e e m a n d Sexual-Preoccupation).
One o t h e r interesting p a t t e r n c a n also b e identified in this table. A m o n g b o t h
m a l e s a n d females a n u m b e r of t h e "personality~'-related t e n d e n c i e s (e.g., Sexual-
Esteem, Internal-Sexual-Control, Sexual-Assertiveness) were negatively
c o r r e l a t e d w i t h " u n d e s i r a b l e " s e x u a l a f f e c t s (e.g., S e x u a l - A n x i e t y , S e x u a l -
D e p r e s s i o n , a n d Sexual-Fear), a s well a s positively c o r r e l a t e d w i t h S e x u a l -
Satisfaction. One o t h e r n o t e w o r t h y finding in this table c o n c e r n s t h e quite high
correlations b e t w e e n the m e a s u r e s of Sexual-Depression a n d Sexual-Anxiety (rs =
.75 and .77).
Factor A n a l y s i s . To confirm t h e c o n c e p t u a l d i m e n s i o n s a s s u m e d to u n d e r l i e
the Multidimensional Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e (MSQ), t h e 60 i t e m s on t h e MSQ
w e r e s u b j e c t e d to a m a x i m u m likelihood c o n f i r m a t o r y f a c t o r a n a l y s i s . A
12-factor s o l u t i o n w a s specified a n d r o t a t e d to a n o b l i q u e s t r u c t u r e w i t h
obllmin rotation (since s o m e of the MSQ s u b s c a l e s were a s s u m e d to b e correlated
with one another). The r e s u l t s of this statistical a n a l y s i s provided p r e l i m i n a r y
evidence s u p p o r t i n g t h e a n t i c i p a t e d factor s t r u c t u r e of t h e M u l t i d l m e n s i o n a l
Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e (a c o p y of t h e factor a n a l y s i s r e s u l t s is available o n
request). The s t r u c t u r e m a t r i x findings for t h e 12 f a c t o r s o l u t i o n w e r e t h e
following: F a c t o r I c o n s i s t e d of t h e i t e m s o n t h e S e x u a l - S a t i s f a c t i o n S u b s c a l e
 M ul t i di m ens ional Sexual i t y Q u e s t i o n n a i r e 39

Table 4 cont'd
Correlations Among the Subscales on the MSQ Among Females and Males

MSQ S u b s e a l e s 7 8 9 10 11 12

I. Sexual-Esteem. .50++ -.55++ .36+ -.25+ -.37++ .60++

2. Sexual-Preoccupation .29++ .18" .31++ .30++ .02 .02
3. Internal-Sexual-Control .37++ -. 28++ -.38++ -. 13 -. 11 .42++
4. Sexual-Consciousness .18" -.09 -.16" .03 -.12 .27+
5. Sexual-Motivation .45++ -.05 .08 ..05 -.21" .22*
6. Sexual-Anxiety -. 19" .77++ .58++ -.48++ .48++ .00
7. Sexual-Assertiveness .00 -.29++ -.59++ .34++ .35++ .73++
8. Sexual-Depression -.36++ .00 .27++ -.08 -.09 .75++
9. External-Sexual-Control -.26++ .58++ .00 .47++ .32++ -.43++
I0. Sexual-Monitoring -.22++ .32++ .25++ .00 .43++ -.19"
11. Fear-of-Sexual Relations -.52++ .39++ .24++ .39++ .00 -.29++
12. Sexual Satisfaction .49++ -.76++ .42++ -.13" -.41++ .00
I

(average coefficient = .76; eigenvalue = 14.56; variance = 24.3%); F a c t o r II c o n t a i n e d

t h e i t e m s f r o m t h e S e x u a l - P r e o c c u p a t i o n S u b s c a l e (average coeffi ci ent = .87;
e i g e n v a l u e = 8.06; v a r i a n c e = 13.4%); F a c t o r III c o n t a i n e d t h e i t e m s f r o m t h e
S e x u a l - M o n i t o r i n g S u b s c a l e ( a v e r a g e c o e f f i c i e n t = .81; e i g e n v a l u e = 3 . 8 0 ;
v a r i a n c e = 6.3%); F a c t o r IV c o n s i s t e d of t h e S e x u a l - C o n s c i o u s n e s s i t e m s (average
coefficient = .57; eigenvalue = 2.99; v a r i a n c e = 5.0%); F a c t o r V c o n t a i n e d t h e i t em s
f r o m t h e E x t e r n a l - S e x u a l - C o n t r o l S u b s c a l e (average coefficient = .75; e i g e n v a l u e
= 1.94; v a r i a n c e = 3.2%); F a c t o r VI c o n t a i n e d t h e i t e m s f r o m t h e F e a r - o f - S e x u a l -
Relations S u b s c a l e (average coefficient = .68; eigenvalue = 1.52; v a r i a n c e = 2.5%);
F a c t o r VII c o n t a i n e d t h e S e x u a l - A s s e r t i v e n e s s i t e m s (average coefficient = . 6 1 ;
e i g e n v a l u e = 1.14; v a r i a n c e = 1.9%); F a c t o r VIII c o n t a i n e d t h e i t e m s f r o m t h e
Sexual-Motivation S u b s c a l e (average coefficient = .80; eigenvalue = 1.11; v a r i a n c e
= 1.9%); F acto r IX consisted of t h e items f r om t h e S e x u a l - E s t e e m Subscal e (average
coefficient = .74; eigenvalue = 0.91; v a r i a n c e = 1.5%); F a c t o r X (eigenvalue = 0.74;
v a r i a n c e = 1.2%) c o n t a i n e d t h e i t e m s f r o m t h e S e x u a l A n x i e t y S u b s c a l e (average
coefficient = .57) a n d t h e S e x u a l - D e p r e s s i o n S u b s c a l e (average coefficient = .72);
a n d F a c t o r XI c o n s i s t e d of t h e i t e m s f r o m t h e I n t e r n a l - S e x u a l - C o n t r o l S u b s c a l e
(average coefficient = .67; ei genval ue = 0.67; v a r i a n c e = i. 1%). T h e twelfth f a c t o r
s o l u t i o n c o n s i s t e d of two of t h e S e x u a l - A s s e r t i v e n e s s i t e m s (average coefficient =
.51; eigenvalue = 0.55; var i a nc e = 0.9%).
Two a s p e c t s of t h e f a c t o r a n a l y s i s a r e i m p o r t a n t to m e n t i o n . First, t h e u s u a l
c r i t e r i o n for identifying f a c t o r s t r u c t u r e (i.e., t h a t e i g e n v a l u e s b e g r e a t e r t h a n 1
a n d / o r t h a t f a c t o r s expl ai n 5% or m o r e of t h e variance) did n o t a p p l y f r o m F a c t o r
5 on. T h u s , u n d e r s t a n d a r d c o n d i t i o n s , t h e f a c t o r a n a l y s i s r e s u l t s w o u l d be a 4
f a c t o r s o l u t i o n , w i t h l a t e r f a c t o r s e x p l a i n i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y s m a l l e r a m o u n t s of
40 Snell, Fisher, & Waiters

variance. Second, the items on some subscales, while loading substantially on

their own appropriate factor, did cross-loaded s o m e w h a t on o t h e r factors.
However, t h e s e cross-loadings were lower in m a g n i t u d e t h a n t h e factor
appropriate loadings. In brief, t h e r e was some very p r e l i m i n a r y factorial-
validity evidence f o r the 12 c o n c e p t s d e s i g n e d to be a s s e s s e d b y t h e
Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (and similarly for s e p a r a t e factor
analyses for males and females).

Gender Effects

Men's and women's responses to the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire

were also examined (see Table 2). The m u l t i v a r i a t e effect for g e n d e r was
statistically significant, F(12,358) = 10.43, p < .001. An inspection of Table 2
indicates t h a t males reported higher scores t h a n females on the m e a s u r e s of
Sexual-Esteem, Sexual-Preoccupation, Sexual Motivation, Sexual-Assertiveness,
and External-Sexual-Control. By contrast, females reported higher scores t h a n
males on the m e a s u r e of Fear-of-Sexual-Relations. Men's and women's scores on
the r e m a i n i n g MSQ s u b s c a l e s were quite similar: Internal-Sexual-Control,
Sexual-Consciousness, Sexual-Anxiety, Sexual-Depression, Sexual-Monitoring,
and Sexual-Satisfaction.

Concurrent Validity Findings

In order to provide preliminary evidence for the c o n c u r r e n t validity of the

Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ), the participants were asked to
complete several additional instruments. The Sexuality Scale (Snell & Papini,
1989) and the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire (Snell et al., 1991), in particular,
were administered because several of the MSQ subscales were derived from these
earlier developed instruments. Two other instruments, the Sex Attitudes Scale
(Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987) and the Sexual Relationship Scale (Hughes & Snell,
1990), were also used in the present investigation in order to provide preliminary
evidence for the c o n c u r r e n t validity of the MSQ. In all instances, correlations
were computed between the MSQ subscales and each of the respective instruments.
The results are presented in the following sections.
Sexuality Scale. The correlations between the 12 MSQ subscales a n d t h e Sexu-
ality Scale are shown in Table 5. As expected, the Sexual-Esteem Subscales from
these two i n s t r u m e n t s were positively and substantially correlated (r -- .72, p <
.001), as were the Sexual-Depression Subscales (r = .76, p < .001) and the Sexual-
Preoccupation Subscales (r - .70, p < .001).
Sexual Awareness Questionnaire. Several of the subscales on the MSQ were
also derived from the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire, a n d t h u s t h e y were
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 41

Table 5
Correlations between the Multidimensional Sexual Questionnaire
and the Sexuality Scale

MSQ Scales S e x u a l i t y Scale

Sexual- Sexual- Sexual-

Esteem Depression Preoccupation

I. Sexual-Esteem .72**** -.51"*** .12"***

2. Sexual-Preoccupation .01 .II* .70****
3. Internal-Sexual-Control .26**** -.27"*** .03
4. Sexual-Consciousness .23**** -.16"*** .21"***
5. Sexual-Motivation .33**** -. 17**** .58"***
6. Sexual-Anxiety -.54"*** .65**** .24****
7. Sexual-Assertiveness .51"*** -.36**** .21"***
8. Sexual-Depression -.49**** .76**** . 18"***
9. External-Sexual-Control -.31"*** .43**** .20****.
I0. Sexual-Monitoring -.30"*** .27**** . 17"***
11. Fear-of-Sexual-Relationships -.46**** .39**** -.O7
12. Sexual-Satisfaction .48**** -.72"*** -.09*

Note: * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .005; **'" p < .001. Higher s c o r e s o n t h e MSQ s u b s c a l e s
c o r r e s p o n d t o a g r e a t e r a m o u n t o f t h e r e l e v a n t s e x u a l t e n d e n c y . N -- 3 7 2 - 3 7 6 .

e x p e c t e d to b e s t r o n g l y a s s o c i a t e d with one a n o t h e r . Table 6 p r e s e n t s t h e

correlations b e t w e e n t h e 12 MSQ s u b s c a l e s a n d t h e s u b s c a l e s on t h e S e x u a l
A w a r e n e s s Questionnaire. As expected, t h e S e x u a l - C o n s c i o u s n e s s S u b s c a l e s from
t h e s e two i n s t r u m e n t s were positively correlated (r = .73, p < .001), a s were the
S e x u a l - M o n i t o r i n g S u b s c a l e s (r = .43~ p < . 0 0 1 ) a n d t h e S e x u a l - A s s e r t i v e n e s s
Subseales {r = .83, p < .001).
Communal and Exchange Approaches to Sex. Table 7 p r e s e n t s t h e correla-
t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e 12 s u b s c a l e s on t h e MSQ a n d H u g h e s a n d Snell's {1990}
m e a s u r e s of c o m m u n a l a n d e x c h a n g e a p p r o a c h e s t o w a r d s e x u a l relations. An
i n s p e c t i o n of t h i s t a b l e i n d i c a t e s t h a t a n e x c h a n g e a p p r o a c h t o w a r d s e x u a l
relations was positively associated with Sexual-Preoccupation, Sexual-
Motivation, Sexual-Anxiety, S e x u a l - D e p r e s s i o n , E x t e r n a l - S e x u a l - C o n t r o l , a n d
Sexual-Monitoring; a n d n e g a t i v e l y a s s o c i a t e d with S e x u a l - E s t e e m , Internal-
S e x u a l - C o n t r o l , S e x u a l - C o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d S e x u a l - S a t i s f a c t i o n . By c o n t r a s t ,
people with a s t r o n g e r c o m m u n a l a p p r o a c h t o w a r d their s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s
reported higher levels of S e x u a l - E s t e e m , S e x u a l : P r e o c c u p a t i o n , Internal-Sexual-
Control, S e x u a l - C o n s c i o u s n e s s , Sexual-Motivation, S e x u a l - A s s e r t i v e n e s s , a n d
Sexual-Satisfaction.
42 SneU, Fisher, & Waiters

Table 6
Correlations between the Multidimensional Sexual Scale
and the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire

MSQ Scales Sexual A w a r e n e s s Q u e s t i o n n a i r e

Sexual- Sexual- Sex-Appeal- Sexual-

Consciousness Monitorlng Consciousness Assertiveness

1. Sexual-Esteem .46**** -.02 .22**** .56****

2. Sexual-Preoccupation .11" .34**** .26**** .24****
3. Internal-Sexual-Control .49**** .06 ,14"** .32****
4. Sexual-Consciousness .73**** .23**** .18"*** .32****
5. Sexual-Motivation .37**** .27**** .24**** .47****
6. Sexual-Anxiety -.21"*** .34**** .08 -.30****
7. Sexual-Assertiveness .38**** -.08 .16"*** .83"***
8. Sexual-Depression -.21"*** .24**** -.05 -.23****
9. External-Sexual-Control -.23**** .11" .12"* -,16"***
10. Sexual-Monitoring -.01 .43**** :15"*** -.14.**
11. Fear-of-Sexual-Relationships -.21.*** .18"*** .01 .42****
12. Sexual-Satisfaction .36~-~ -.12" .12" .33****

Note: H i g h e r s c o r e s o n t h e MSQ s u b s c a l e s c o r r e s o n d t o a g r e a t e r a m o u n t o f t h e
relevant sexual t e n d e n c y . N -- 3 7 3 - 3 7 6 . * p < .05: ** p < .01; *** p < .005; **** p < .001.

Sex Attitudes. Table 8 p r e s e n t s t h e correlations b e t w e e n t h e Multidimension-

al Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e a n d H e n d r i c k a n d H e n d r i c k ' s (1987) m e a s u r e of sex
attitudes. This table reveals t h a t m o s t of t h e s u b s c a l e s on the MSQ were positive-
ly a s s o c i a t e d with t h e sex a t t i t u d e s m e a s u r e d b y t h i s i n s t r u m e n t . The r e s u l t s
indicated t h a t people with m o r e permissive a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d sex (i.e., t h o s e w h o
believed in c a s u a l , guilt-free sex) r e p o r t e d h i g h e r s c o r e s on t h e m e a s u r e s of
S e x u a l - P r e o c c u p a t i o n , Sexual-Motivation, a n d E x t e r n a l - S e x u a l - C o n t r o l . Also,
those w h o reported t h a t t h e y believed in responsible a n d n o n j u d g m e n t a l sex (i.e.,
the s e x u a l p r a c t i c e s s u b s c a l e ) h a d higher s c o r e s o n t h e m e a s u r e s of I n t e m a l -
S e x u a l - C o n t r o l , S e x u a l - C o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d S e x u a l - M o t i v a t i o n . Similarly,
t h o s e individuals w h o were m o r e likely to a d h e r e to a belief in idealized sex (e.g.,
sex as t h e merging of two souls) reported higher S e x u a l - c o n s c i o u s n e s s and Sexual-
Motivation scores. Finally, it c a n b e s e e n in Table 8 t h a t people w h o t o o k a
m a n i p u l a t i v e , s e l f - c e n t e r e d view t o w a r d s e x (the i n s t r u m e n t a l s e x a t t i t u d e
subscale) d e s c r i b e d t h e m s e l v e s a s having g r e a t e r S e x u a l - P r e o c c u p a t i o n , Exter-
nal-Sexual-Control, Sexual-Motivation, a n d Sexual-Anxiety.
 Multidimensional Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e 43

Tsble 7
C o r r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l Sex~A11ty Q u e s t i o n n a i r e
and H~shes-Snell Measure of Communal and Exchange Approaches
Toward Sexual Relations

Hughes-Snell Sexual Relationship Scale

MSQ Scales
Exchange Approach Communal Approach
ToSex ToSex

1. Sexual-Esteem -.11" .31"***

2. Sexual-Preoccupation .32**** .10"
3. Internal-Sexual-Control -. 13"** .28****
4. Sexual-Consciousness -. 11* .42****
5. Sexual-Motiation •11" .28****
6. Sexual-Anxiety .19"*** -.06
7. Sexual-Assertiveness -.05 .28****
8. Sexual-Depression .18"*** -.05
9. External-Sexual-Control .26**** -.05
I 0. Sexual-Monitoring .17"*** .08
11. Fear-of-Sexual-Relationships .05 -.07
12. Sexual-Satisfaction -. 18~÷~ .17****

Note: ; * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .005; **** p < .001. Higher scores o n t h e MSQ subscales
c o r r e s p o n d t o a greater a m o u n t o f t h e r e l e v a n t s e x u a l t e n d e n c y . N = 3 6 4 - 3 7 0 .

Behavioral Correlates of the MSQ

To determine w h e t h e r t h e scores on the MSQ s u b s c a l e s could predict m e n ' s a n d

w o m e n ' s s e x u a l b e h a v i o r s , two reliable a n d valid m e a s u r e s of s e x u a l b e h a v i o r s
w e r e u s e d in t h e p r e s e n t investigation, t h e C o w a r t - S t e c k l e r Scale of S e x u a l
E x p e r i e n c e ( C o w a r t - S t e c k l e r & Pollack, 1988) a n d t h e H u m a n S e x u a l i t y
Q u e s t i o n n a i r e (Zuckerman, 1988). Correlations were c o m p u t e d b e t w e e n t h e MSQ
s u b s c a l e s a n d e a c h r e s p e c t i v e i n s t r u m e n t (for m a l e s a n d f e m a l e s separately).
The r e s u l t s are s h o w n in Table 9 for h e t e r o s e x u a l subjects.
A very s i m i l a r p a t t e r n of c o r r e l a t i o n s w a s f o u n d a m o n g b o t h h e t e r o s e x u a l
m a l e s a n d f e m a l e s for s o m e of t h e MSQ s u b s c a l e s . As s h o w n in Table 9, m e n ' s
a n d w o m e n ' s history of s e x u a l activity w a s positively c o r r e l a t e d with their level
of s e x u a l - e s t e e m , s e x u a l - m o t i v a t l o n , a n d s e x u a l - s a t i s f a c t i o n for b o t h t h e Scale
of Sexual Experience (among males, r s = .40, .59, a n d .29, aU p s < .01; a m o n g fe-
males, rs = .58, .50, a n d .41, all p s < .01) and t h e H u m a n Sexuality Questionnaire
(among males, r s = .46, .56 a n d .37, all p s < .01; a m o n g females, r s = .51, .37, a n d
.42, all p s < .01); a n d negatively c o r r e l a t e d with t h e i r s e x u a l - a n x i e t y , s e x u a l -
44 Snell, Fisher, & Waiters

Table 8
Correlations b e t w e e n t h e M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l Sexual Questionnaire
and the Sex Attitudes Scale

Sex Attitude Scale

MSQ Scales
Sexual- Sexual-
Permissiveness Practices Communal Instrumental

I. Sexual-Esteem .17"*** .04 .13"** -.04

2. Sexual-Preoccupation .47**** .02 .18"*** .31"***
3. Internal-Sexual-Control -.08 .21"*** .17"*** -.05
4. Sexual-Consciousness .04 .24**** .24**** .07
5. Sexual-Motivation .42**** .20**** .23**** .24"**~
6. Sexual-Anxiety .15"** -.02 -.06 .21"***
7. Sexual-Assertiveness .18"*** .10. .12"* , .00

8. Sexual-Depression .12"* .02 -.07 .17"***

9. External-Sexual-Control .30**** -.16----~- -.07 .27****
I 0. Sexual-Monitoring -.00 -. 1I* -.02 .09*
11. Fear-of-Sexual-Relationships -.19"*** -.03 -.06 .01
12. Sexual-Satisfaction -.10. .0G .10. -.19"***

Note: * p < .05: ** p < .01; *** p < .005; ****p < .001. Higher scores on the MSQ subscales
c o r r e s o n d t o a greater a m o u n t o f t h e r e l e v a n t s e x u a l t e n d e n c y . N = 3 6 9 - 3 7 6 .

depression, a n d e x t e r n a l - s e x u a l - c o n t r o l for b o t h t h e Scale of S e x u a l Experience

(among males, r s = -.28, -.33, a n d -.23 all p s < .05; a m o n g females, r s = -.24, -133,
a n d -.32, all ps < .05) a n d the H u m a n Sexuality Questionnaire (among males, r s =
.37, -,44, and -.33, all ps < .05; among females, rs = -.27, .40, and -.35, all ps < .05).
Several gender specific p a t t e r n s of correlations were also found. A m o n g women,
t h e F e a r - o f - S e x u a l - R e l a t i o n s S u b s c a l e w a s negatively c o r r e l a t e d w i t h t h e two
sexual activity m e a s u r e s (rs = -.36 a n d -.30, both ps < .01); a n d w o m e n ' s scores on
t h e Sexual-Assertiveness S u b s c a l e were positively correlated with t h e i r r e s p o n s -
es on t h e two m e a s u r e s of s e x u a l behaviors ( r s = .41 a n d .35, b o t h p s < .05). By
contrast, a m o n g m a l e s , scores on the S e x u a l - C o n s c i o u s n e s s S u b s c a l e were posi-
tively correlated with t h e i r r e s p o n s e s to the two m e a s u r e s of s e x u a l behaviors ( r s
= .35 and .40, both ps < .01).
In addition, several o t h e r significant correlations were f o u n d for one b u t not
for b o t h sexual b e h a v i o r i n s t r u m e n t s . Men's sexual experiences, as m e a s u r e d by
t h e Z u c k e r m a n ' s (1988) H u m a n Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e , were positively corre-
lated with their Sexual-Assertiveness (r = .36, p < .01), a n d negatively associated
with their Fear-of-Sexual-Relations ( r = -.29, p < .05). Additionally, w o m e n ' s sexual
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 45

Table 9
Correlations between the Multidimensional Sexual Questionnaire
and Measures of Sexual Behaviors

M e a s u r e s of S e x u a l B e h a v i o r s

MSQ Scales Cowart-Pollack Scale Zuckerman H u m a n

of Sexual Experience Sexuality Questionnaire

Males Females Males Females

1, Sexual-Esteem .40** .58** .46** .51"*

All .38** .47** .29* .26**
2. Sexual-Preoccupation .12 .24* .12 .08
All .12 .10 -.04 -.20*
3. Internal-Sexual-Control .12 .15 .19 .20
All .18 .14 .27* .36**
4. Sexual-Consciousness .35** .18 .40** .13'
All .37** .18 .33** .09
5. Sexual-Motivation .59** .50** .56** .37**
All .56** .36** .36** .12
6. Sexual-Anxiety -.28* -.24" -.37** -.27**
All -.27* -.25** -.32** -.26**
7, Sexual-Assertiveness .22 .41"* .36** .35*
All .25* .33** .21 .19"
8, Sexual-Depression -.33* -.33** -.44** -.40**
All -.36** -.32** -.39"* -,32**
9, External-Sexual-Control -.23* -.32** -.33* -.35**
All -.25~ -,33"* -.31"* -.47**
10. Sexual-Monitoring -,13 -.14 -.21 -.22*
All -, 11 -. 16 -.31"* -.34**
1 I. Fear-of-Sexual-Relationships -.24 -.36** -.29* -,30**
All -.22 -.33** -.30* -. 14
12. Sexual-Satisfaction .29** .41.* ,37** .42**
All .29* .34** ,21 .26**

N o t e : * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .005; **** p < . 0 0 1 . H i g h e r s c o r e s o n t h e MSQ s u b s c a l e s
corresond to a greater amount of the relevant sexual tendency. Correlations indi-
c a t e d b y "All" a r e b a s e d o n b o t h h e t e r o s e x u a l s a n d h o m o s e x u a l s . F o r h e t e r o s e x u -
a l s , n for m a l e s ( f e m a l e s ) = 6 0 (90); for b o t h h e t e r o s e x u a l s a n d h o m o s e x u a l s , n for
males (females) = 72 (118).
46 Snell, Fisher, & Waiters

e x p e r i e n c e s , as m e a s u r e d by t h e Cowart-Pollack Scale of Sexual Experience,

were positively correlated with their Sexual-Preoccupation ( r = .24, p < .05) a n d
negatively associated with their Sexual-Monitoring (r = :.22, p < .05).
Finally, (indicated by "All") in Table 9 are the correlations b a s e d on all partic-
ipants, including both heterosexuals a n d homosexuals. The two sets of correla-
tions were, for the m o s t part quite similar, although there were some m i n o r var-
iations (e.g., a m o n g the c o m b i n e d sample of heterosexual a n d h o m o s e x u a l males
a n d females, Internal-Sexual-Control w a s positively correlated with t h e Zuck-
e r m a n m e a s u r e of sexual behaviors for b o t h m a l e s a n d females). Where differ-
ences did emerge b e t w e e n t h e two sets of correlations, they were m o s t l y small
differences in t h e size of the correlations.

DISCUSSION
The p u r p o s e of the p r e s e n t investigation was to c o n s t r u c t a n d validate a meas-
ure of psychological, individual tendencies associated with t h e sexual aspects of
m e n ' s a n d w o m e n ' s lives. This w a s accomlished by developing a n objective,
self-report i n s t r u m e n t c o n s i s t i n g of twelve s u b s c a l e s - t h e M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l
Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ). The research reported in t h e present investigation
provided preliminary e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e s u b s c a l e s on t h e MSQ h a d sufficiently
high reliability a n d factoral-validity to w a r r a n t their u s e in f u t u r e r e s e a r c h on
sexual relations. Specifically, there was evidence for both the internal consisten-
cy a n d test-retest stability of the MSQ subscales, as well as preliminary evidence
for its a n t i c i p a t e d factor s t r u c t u r e . Other findings reported in t h i s r e s e a r c h
provided initial evidence for t h e c o n c u r r e n t validity of t h e M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l
Sexuality Questionnaire. Ir~particular, there was evidence t h a t several of the
MSQ subscales were positively associated with conceptually similar subscales on
the Sexuality Scale {Snell & Papini, 1989) a n d the Sexual Awareness Questionaire
(Snell et al., 1991).
In addition, t h e p r e s e n t investigation revealed t h a t t h e M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l
Sexuality Questionnaire was associated with Hughes a n d Snel1's (1990) m e a s u r e
of c o m m u n a l a n d exchange approaches toward sex. People who were more likely
to take a quid pro quo approach to sex and to keep tabs on their sexual activities
(e.g., to c o u n t t h e n u m b e r of sexual favors they do for their partner) described
themselves as preoccupied with sex, and, in addition, they approached their sexual
relations from an external perspective where sexual activities were viewed as d u e
to c h a n c e a n d luck. By c o n t r a s t , individuals who a p p r o a c h e d their sexual rela-
tions from a more interpersonal perspective which emphasized caring and m u t u a l
concern (i.e., those with a c o m m u n a l approach to sex), not only viewed themselves
in a highly favorable m a n n e r (i.e., greater sexual-esteem) b u t they also described
themselves as sexually assertive a n d sexually aware individuals. Another set of
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 47

results involved the relationship between the dispositional tendencies m e a s u r e d

by the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire and people's attitudes about
sex (Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987). Not surprisingly, it was found t h a t individuals
who were preoccupied with sex and those with an "external" perspective toward
sex held more permissive sexual attitudes endorsing open, free, and casual sex;
in addition, they endorsed manipulative attitudes toward sex. By contrast, those
individuals whose sexual attitudes were more c o m m u n a l and responsible in
n a t u r e r e g a r d e d t h e m s e l v e s as being quite sexually aware, motivated, a n d
internally controlled.
A final set of research findings reported in the present investigation focused on
the relationship between heterosexual men's and women's sexual experiences, as
m e a s u r e d by both the Scale of Sexual Experience (Cowart-Steckler & Pollack,
1988) a n d the H u m a n Sexuality Questionnaire (Zuckerman, 1988), and their
scores on the 12 MSQ subscales. As expected, people who reported having a more
extensive history of sexual experiences h a d greater sexual-esteem, sexual-
motivation, and sexual-satisfaction. Not surprisingly, for both w o m e n and men,
those who held a m o r e positive view about their own sexuality a n d sexual
capability, those with a strong drive for sexual interactions, and those more
satisfied with the sexual aspects of their life reported a more extensive history of
sexual activity. By c o n t r a s t , both m e n a n d w o m e n who were anxious and
depressed about their sexuality, as well as those with a n external orientation to
the sexual a s p e c t s of their life, were less likely to h a v e engaged in a variety of
sexual experiences. S u c h results are clearly understandable. Individuals who
have aversive alYective reactions to sex, such as those with greater sexual-anxiety
and sexual-depression, would be less inclined actually to engage in sexual
relations; a n d those who believe that the sexual aspects of their life are influenced
and determined by forces external to t h e m would be less likely actually to initiate
sexual relations with a n o t h e r person. The sexual-behavior correlates of t h e MSQ
also revealed a n intriguing gender-related pattern. Men's, b u t n o t women's,
sexual activity was predicted by their level of sexual-consciousness (i.e., their dis-
positional sexual awareness). Perhaps males are more likely t h a n females to
translate t h e i r sexual t h o u g h t s into behaviors, especially in a social environ-
m e n t t h a t h a s historically been more tolerant of such behavior among males.
This speculation, however, needs to be more directly examined in future research.
In summary, the aforementioned findings provide evidence that the psychological
t e n d e n c i e s m e a s u r e d by the Multidimensional Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e are
predictive of men's and women's sexual behaviors. In fact, all but two of the 12
MSQ s u b s c a l e s (i.e., Internal-Sexual-Control a n d Sexual-Monitoring) were
predictive of people's tendency to engage in sexual interactions.
The findings reported in this research are also consistent with the prediction
that some of the psychological tendencies m e a s u r e d by the Multidimensional
Sexuality Questionnaire are associated with a relatively unrestricted orientation
48 Snell, Fisher, & Walters

to sexual relations, while o t h e r s are associated with a relatively committed

orientation. As predicted, the findings revealed t h a t those people who were
preoccupied and obsessed with sexual m a t t e r s (as well as those people who
regarded the sexual aspects of their life as largely influenced and determined by
external factors, were more likely to adopt a n unrestricted sexual orientation.
These individuals expressed a n interest in casual, guilt-free sex where the m a i n
focus was on personal sexual enjoyment. By comparison, the results revealed
t h a t , as predicted, a c o m m i t t e d a n d restrictive o r i e n t a t i o n to s e x u a l
relationships was adopted by individuals with greater sexual-esteem, greater
sexual-consciousness, a n d a n internal locus of control a p p r o a c h to sexual
relations. Moreover, this committed sexual orientation was manifested both in
terms of the sexual attitudes held by these individuals and the c o m m u n a l sexual
behaviors they exhibited. Not only did t h e y consider sexual relations to be a
form of interpersonal union, they also practiced sex in a m u t u a l l y responsive
and caring m a n n e r as well.
Although the present research h a s d e m o n s t r a t e d a variety of relationships
between y o u n g adults' sexual relations and the psychological propensities
m e a s u r e d by the MSQ, further research is still needed. For example, additional
psychometric studies might be designed to improve the MSQ. In particular, the
items on the Sexual-Anxiety and Sexual-Depression Scales might be rewritten or
reworked to provide greater independence for these two subscales. It might also be
valuable to extend the n u m b e r of items on this instrument in order to boost the
reliabilities for the MSQ subscales. F u t u r e researchers might also examine
w h e t h e r the 12 s u b s c a l e s on the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire
would be associated with other attitudinal and psychosocial variables (cf. Bailey
et al., 1987; Fisher, 1986, 1987; Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987). One of the most
important aspects of the present investigation is t h a t the Multidimensional
Sexuality Q u e s t i o n n a i r e (MSQ) h o l d s the promise for i n c r e a s i n g o u r
u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the psychological aspects of m e n ' s and w o m e n ' s sexual
relationships. The brevity of the MSQ (i.e., it is quick and easy to administer) is
a p a r t i c u l a r advantage t h a t should promote its use and t h e r e b y facilitate
increased insight into the n a t u r e of m e n ' s and women's sexual intimacy. In
addition, b e c a u s e of the n u m b e r a n d variety of psychological t e n d e n c i e s
m e a s u r e d by the MSQ (12 subscales), it is hoped that this i n s t r u m e n t will help
further the investigation of the psychological effects, correlates, and conse-
quences of men's and women's sexual relations (Gerrard, 1987; Fisher, Byrne, &
White, 1983; Mazer & Percival, 1989), and perhaps even add to the literature on
sexual therapy and dysfunctions (Kaplan, 1974, 1979; Maddox, 1976; Mosher,
1979c; Sakheim, Barlow, Beck & Abrahamson, 1984). In our own research, the
impact of gender roles (Snell, 1986; Snell, Belk, & Hawkins, 1986a, 1987) on the
sexual tendencies m e a s u r e d by the MSQ is currently being investigated (Snell,
1992). Additionally, we are currently e x a m ~ the impact of the MSQ sexual
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 49

t e n d e n c i e s o n m e n ' s a n d w o m e n ' s c o n t r a c e p t i v e b e h a v i o r s (Adler & Hendrick,

1991). T h e p r e s e n t r e s e a r c h r e p r e s e n t s a n initial s t e p in t h e d i r e c t i o n of
c o n t r i b u t i n g to t h e psychological s t u d y of h u m a n sexuality.

Acknowledgement

Portions of these data were presented at the 37th annual meeting of the South-
western Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA., USA

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 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 53

APPENDIX I
SURVEY

INSTRIIt~I'IOIIS: L i s t e d b e l o w a r e s e v e r a l s t a t e m e n t s t h a t c o n c e r n t h e t o p i c of s e x -
u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s . P l e a s e r e a d e a c h i t e m c a r e f u l l y a n d d e c i d e t o w h a t e x t e n t it is
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f y o u . S o m e of t h e i t e m s r e f e r t o a s p e c i f i c s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p .
W h e n e v e r p o s s i b l e , a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n s w i t h y o u r m o s t r e c e n t p a r t n e r in m i n d .
If y o u h a v e n e v e r h a d a s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p , a n s w e r i n t e r m s o f w h a t y o u t h i n k
y o u r r e s p o n s e s w o u l d m o s t likely be. T h e n , f o r e a c h s t a t e m e n t fill i n t h e r e s p o n s e
o n t h e a n s w e r s h e e t t h a t i n d i c a t e s h o w m u c h it a p p l i e s t o y o u b y u s i n g t h e follow-
ing scale:

A = Not at all Characteristic of me.

B = Slightly characteristic of me.
C = Somewhat characteristic of me.
D -- Moderately characteristic of me
E = Very characteristic of me

1. I a m confident a b o u t myselfas a sexual partner.

9.. I think about sex all the time.
3. My sexuality is something that I a m largely responsible for.
4. I a m very aware of m y sexual feelings.
5. I a m very motivated to be sexually active.
6. I feel anxious when I think about the sexual aspects of m y life.
7. I a m very assertive a b o u t the sexual aspects of my life.
8. I a m depressed about the sexual aspects of m y life.
9. The sexual aspects of m y life are determined mostly by chance happenings.
10. I sometimes wonder w h a t others think of the sexual aspects of my life.
11. I a m s o m e w h a t afraid of becoming sexually involved with another person.
12. I a m very satisfied with the way m y sexual needs are currently being met.
13. I a m a pretty good sexual partner.
14. I think about sex more than anything else.
15. The sexual aspects of m y life are determined in large part b y m y own behavior.
16. I a m very aware of m y sexual motivations.
17. I a m strongly motivated to devote time and effort to sex.
18. I a m worried a b o u t the sexual aspects of m y life.
19. I a m not very direct a b o u t voicing my sexual preferences.
20. I a m disappointed a b o u t the quality of m y sex life.
2 I. Most things that affect the sexual aspects of m y life happen to me b y accident.
22. I a m very concerned with how others evaluate the sexual aspects of m y life.
54 Snell, Fisher, & Waiters

23. I sometimes have a fear of sexual relationships.

24. I a m very satisfied with m y sexual relationship.
25. I a m better at sex t h a n most other people.
26. I tend to be preoccupied with sex.
27. I a m in control of the sexual aspects of m y life.
28. I tend to think a b o u t m y sexual feelings.
29. I have a strong desire to be sexually active.
30. Thinking a b o u t the sexual aspects of m y life leaves me with an u n e a s y feeling.
31, I a m somewhat passive a b o u t expressing m y sexual desires.
32. I feel discouraged a b o u t m y sex life.
33. Luck plays a big part in influencing the sexual aspects of m y life.
34. I'm very aware of w h a t others think of the sexual aspects of my life.
35. I sometimes a m fearful of sexual activity.
36. My sexual relationship meets m y original expectations.
37. I would rate myself pretty favorably as a sexual p m ~ e r .
38. I'm constantly thinking a b o u t having sex.
39. The main thing which affects the sexual aspects of m y life is what I myself do.
40. I'm very alert to changes in m y sexual desires.
41. It's really important to me that I involve myself in sexual activity.
42. I nsuaUy worry about the sexual aspects of m y life.
43. I do not hesitate to a s k for what I want in a sexual relationship.
44. I feel u n h a p p y a b o u t m y sexual relationships.
45. The ~ x u a l aspects of m y life are largely a matter of (good or bad) fortune.
46. I'm concerned a b o u t how the sexual aspect of m y life appears to others.
47. I don't have very m u c h fear about engaging in sex.
48. My sexual relationship is very good compared to most.
49. I would be very confident in a sexual encounter.
50. I think about sex the majority of the time.
51. My sexuality is something that I myself a m in charge of.
52. I a m very aware of m y sexual tendencies.
53. I strive to keep myself sexually active,
54. I feel nervous w h e n I think about the sexual aspects of mylife.
55. When it comes to sex, I usually a s k for what I want.
56. I feel sad when I think about my sexual experiences.
57. The sexual aspects of my life are a matter of fate (destiny).
58. I'm concerned a b o u t what other people think of the sexual aspects of m y life.
59. I'm not very afraid of becoming sexually active.
60. I a m very satisfied with the sexual aspects of m y life.
61. I responded to the above items based on:
(A) A current sexual relationship
(B) A p a s t sexual relationship.
(C) An imagined sexual relationship.
 Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire 55

CODING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ITEMS

on the Multidimensional Sex-nllty QuestionnAire (MSQ)

INSTRUCTIONS; Four MSQ items (items 19, 3 I, 47, and 50) are first recoded so that A = E, B
= D, C = C, D = B, and E = A. Then, all the items are scored so that A = 0;, B = 1; C =2; D= 3 ; a n d E =
4. Next, the MSQ items are s u m m e d for each subscale so that higher scores correspond to
greater m o u n t s of the relevant tendency.

MSQ Subscales and Labels Items assigned to each Subscale

1. S e x u a l - e s t e e m (items 1, 13, 25, 37, and 49)

2 Sexual-preoccupation {items 2, 14,26,38, and 50)
3 Internal-sexual-control (items 3, 15, 27, 39, and 51)
Sexual-consciousness (items 4, 16, 28, 40, and 52)
Sexual-motivation (items 5, 17, 29, 41, and 53)
fi Sexual-anxiety (items 6, 18,30, 42, and 54)
Z Sexual-assertiveness (items 7, 19, 3 I, 43, arxi 55)
S Sexual-depression (items 8, 20, 32, 44, arxi 56)
External-sexual-control (items 9, 21, 33, 45, and 57)
10. Sexual-monitoring (items 10, 22, 34, 46, and 58)
11. Fear-of-sexual-relationships (items 11, 23, 35, 47, and 59)
12. Sexual-satisfaction (items 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60)

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