Sexual self-concept: Validation in multiple domains

Sexual Self-Concept (SSC), a person’s evaluation of their sexual thoughts and feelings, is an integral part of physical and psychological well-being. SSC has been suggested to play a role in mental health, interpersonal relationships, and risk-taking (Volman et. al, 2007; Breakwell et. al, 1997). Despite the centrality of SSC to the universal human experience, there is relatively little quantitative psychological research into the construct. Much of the existing SSC research is qualitative (Wagner, J., & Rehfuss, 2008; Rashidian & Hussain, 2014), uses highly selected samples (Turner & Mo, 1984; Pai et al., 2010; Ziaei et al., 2013), or focuses on very narrowly defined aspects within the broad construct of SSC (Breakwell & Millward, 1997; Andersen & Cyranowski, 1994; Blashill et. al, 2016). To ameliorate this, the current study sought to evaluate the Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Scale Short-Form (MSSCQ-SF) within an online sample (N=507). The MSSCQ-SF is a recently constructed SSC scale composed of four underlying factors (Sexual Agency, Sexual Anxiety, Sexual Desire, and Sexual Satisfaction) and purported to have robust psychometric properties (Pantin & Derringer, 2019). The goal was to establish the validity of the MSSCQ-SF by evaluating its four factors’ (1) relation to previously established measures of SSC, (2) their relation to previously established measures theoretically distinct from SSC, and (3) their ability to predict outcomes putatively associated with SSC. Sexual Desire and Sexual Anxiety established convergent validity with correlations above r=0.6. Sexual Satisfaction, Sexual Anxiety, and Sexual Agency established discriminant validity with correlations below r=|0.3|. Sexual Desire, Sexual Satisfaction, and Sexual Anxiety established criterion validity with correlations above r=|0.3|. In conclusion, the results suggested that the MSSCQ-SF is a valid measure for the assessment of SSC.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Pantin, Kenzhane

Contributors dc:contributor

• Derringer, Jaime
• Cohen, Dov
• Todd, Nathan
• Fraley, Chris
• Stern, Chadly

• SSC
• sexual self-concept
• measure validation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Kenzhane Pantin

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115421

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F115421