Family Sex Communication Quotient

Abstract

The Family Sex Communication Quotient (FSCQ) is an 18-item psychological instrument developed by Clay Warren and Michael Neer (1982, 1983) to function as a diagnostic tool. Its primary function is to measure the general family orientation toward the discussion of sexual topics between parents and children. The scale assesses this orientation across three primary, highly correlated dimensions: Comfort, Information, and Value. Responses are captured using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree.

Scores are summed to determine the level of family sex communication orientation, which is categorized into three ranges: low (18–39), moderate (40–69), and high (70–90). Since its inception, descriptive statistics generally indicate a modest orientation among respondents. The FSCQ has demonstrated strong psychometric properties, consistently showing high reliability (alpha coefficients averaging above .90) and strong internal consistency across its dimensions.

Keywords

Family communication, sex education, parent-child communication, sexual learning, communication scale, psychological measurement, sexual attitudes.

Authors

Clay Warren, Michael Neer.

Purpose

The central purpose of the Family Sex Communication Quotient (FSCQ) is to provide a standardized, quantitative measure of the communicative climate regarding sexual topics within a family unit. It was designed specifically as a diagnostic tool to gauge the likelihood and quality of discussions about sex that occur between parents and their children.

By assessing the family’s overall orientation—rather than just the frequency of discussions—the instrument aids researchers and practitioners in identifying whether the home environment is perceived as supportive and informative regarding sexual learning. This assessment is critical for understanding the factors that influence adolescent sexual behavior and attitudes, as noted in subsequent research evaluating the scale’s utility.

Construct

The FSCQ measures the construct of Family Sex Communication Orientation, which is operationalized through three distinct, yet interrelated, dimensions:

• Comfort: This dimension measures the perceived degree of openness and ease with which sexual topics are discussed in the family. It reflects the existence of a supportive communicative climate, which is considered essential for productive exchanges of sex-related information (e.g., “I feel free to ask my parents questions about sex”).

• Information: This dimension assesses the perception of the quantity of sexual information learned and shared during family discussions. Its inclusion supports the view that the home should function as a primary and sufficient source of sexual learning.

• Value: This dimension measures the perceived overall importance placed upon the family’s role in sexual learning. The presence of positive long-range values about family sex communication is hypothesized to positively influence the likelihood of individuals discussing sex with their own children in the future.

Validity

The validity of the FSCQ was addressed through several methodological steps during its development. **Face validity** was ensured by constructing statements that aligned closely with the definitional lines of the three core dimensions (Comfort, Information, and Value).

Early psychometric work included employing four independent measures—covering frequency, impact, parental style, and attitudes toward sexual practices—to establish **criterion-related validity**. Further support for the scale’s effectiveness was demonstrated in studies comparing the FSCQ with other established measures. Specifically, a study by Zamboni and Silver (2009) found that the FSCQ was significantly and positively correlated with Fisher’s Weighted Topics Scale (1987), confirming that both instruments collectively capture the essential measurement aspects of family sex communication, including extent, frequency, quality, and content.

Reliability

The FSCQ is characterized as a highly reliable instrument. Initial statistical assessments yielded a strong alpha coefficient ($alpha$) of .92 (Warren & Neer, 1986). Over the years, the average alpha coefficient has consistently remained above the .90 threshold (Warren, 2006).

Assessment of internal consistency revealed strong inter-item and inter-dimensional correlations. Early analysis showed that two-thirds of the 18 items correlated above .60. Dimension-to-dimension correlations were robust, with all dimensions correlating above .60, and the Comfort and Information dimensions correlating above .80. Dimension-to-total correlations provided particularly strong evidence for the instrument’s internal consistency, with all dimensions correlating above .80, and the Value and Information dimensions each correlating above .90 with the total FSCQ score. When the scale was administered to parents, the alpha coefficient for mothers was also found to be high, at .91 (Warren & Olsen, 2005).

Factor Analysis

The internal structure of the FSCQ was investigated using factor analysis. This analysis generally supported the intended three-dimensional structure. Notably, only two items originating from the Value dimension failed to contribute significantly to the established factor structure; however, they were retained in the instrument because their removal did not decrease the overall alpha coefficient estimate.

Further evidence supporting the reliability of the orientation levels derived from the summed FSCQ scores was found in significant univariate F ratios, which spanned a range of 6.85 to 70.80. Half of the items produced F ratios exceeding 40.00. Additionally, a discriminant analysis was conducted, which yielded a single discriminant function that successfully classified 87% of respondents into their correct orientation category (low, moderate, or high), further confirming the scale’s ability to differentiate between these groups.

Instrument

Test Type: Diagnostic Tool / Self-report Questionnaire

Format: 18 items assessed on a 5-point Likert scale (Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral/Don’t Know, Disagree, Strongly Disagree). The instrument includes six items for each of the three dimensions (Comfort, Information, Value). Six items require reverse scoring.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Parents and Children (Adolescents/Young Adults).

Age Group: Not explicitly defined, but intended for use with individuals capable of reflecting on parent-child communication dynamics.

Population Details: Appropriate for American and Canadian populations. Administration to other developed countries (e.g., a Danish sample) resulted in different distributions, suggesting cultural sensitivity may be necessary for cross-national application.

Test Methodology: Self-administered paper-and-pencil instrument. Respondents are advised to answer based on personal feelings, regardless of whether they have actively discussed sex with their parents. Completion time is 5 minutes or less.

Keywords

Sexual attitudes, communication patterns, psychological scale, family dynamics, relationship communication, sex communication orientation.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Clay Warren, Department of Organizational Sciences and Communication, The George Washington University, 600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC, 20052.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The FSCQ was initially copyrighted in the Journal of Applied Communication Research (Warren & Neer, 1986). The instrument can be used for **noncommercial purposes** without obtaining permission from the journal or the author. However, reprinting the instrument for profit requires explicit permission from both the journal and the author. Initial development and use of the scale began in 1982.

Reference’s

1. Fisher, T. D. (1987). Family communication and the sexual behavior and attitudes of college students. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 16, 481–495.

2. Warren, C. (1987, May). Family sex communication in Denmark. Paper presented at International Communication Association conference, Montreal.

3. Warren, C. (1992). Perspectives on international sex practices and American family sex communication relevant to teenage sexual behavior in the United States. Health Communication, 4, 121–136.

4. Warren, C. (1995). Parent-child communication about sex. In T. J. Socha & G. Stamp (Eds.), Parents, children, and communication: Frontiers of theory and research (pp. 173–201). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

5. Warren, C. (2000). Talking with your children about sex. In C. G. Waugh, W. I. Gorden, & K. M. Golden (Eds.), Let’s talk: A cognitive skills approach to interpersonal communication (pp. 292–295 & 451). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.

6. Warren, C. (2006). Communicating about sex with parents and partners. In K. M. Galvin & P. J. Cooper (Eds.), Making connections: Readings in relational communication (4th ed., pp. 319–326). New York: Oxford University Press.

7. Warren, C., & Neer, M. (1982, May). Family sexual communication: A preliminary study of patterns of interaction. Paper presented at International Communication Association conference, Boston.

8. Warren, C., & Neer, M. (1983, May). Determinants and effects of family sexual communication. Paper presented at International Communication Association conference, Dallas.

9. Warren, C., & Neer, M. (1986). Family sex communication orientation. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 14, 86–107.

10. Warren, C., & Olsen, N. (2005, November). A paired analysis of parent-child communication about sex. Paper presented at National Communication Association conference, Boston.

11. Zamboni, B. D., & Silver, R. (2009). Family sex communication and the sexual desire, attitudes, and behavior of late adolescents. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 4, 58–78.

Items of the Family Sex Communication Quotient

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Directions: The following statements represent personal feelings about family discussions of sex. Please circle one of the five response categories that best describes your opinion: SA = Strongly Agree, A = Agree, N = Neutral (or Don’t Know), D = Disagree, SD = Strongly Disagree. Also, please answer these questions regardless of whether you have ever talked about sex with your parents. Don’t spend much time on any one question; make a choice and move to the next. Don’t ask others how they are answering their questions, or how they think you should answer yours.

Scoring: The FSCQ measures a general orientation toward discussion about sex in the family unit along three dimensions: Comfort (Items 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17), Information (Items 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18), and Value (Items 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16). You can give each SA answer a “5,” A answer a “4,” N answer a “3,” D answer a “2,” and SD answer a “1.” Six of the questions need to be reverse scored (Items 4, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 16). Reverse scoring means the 5 and 1 weights are interchanged, the 4 and 2 weights are interchanged, and the 3 remains the same. It is used in questionnaire design to detect set-response behavior—a tendency of some folks to not think about the questions and, thus, to use the same answers regardless of the question asked. After pairing a number with the 18 questions, you can total the numbers for your FSCQ score. Range levels of orientation have been generalized as low (18–39), moderate (40–69), and high (70–90).