Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale

Abstract

The Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale (NSIS) is a specialized psychological instrument designed to assess the underlying motivations for sexual intimacy, going beyond simple measures of sexual desire or drive. Developed by Marelich and Shelton, the scale comprises 22 items divided into three distinct subscales derived from Murray’s (1938) theory of needs: the need for sex, the need for affiliation, and the need for dominance.

The NSIS utilizes a 5-point Likert-type scale for response, ranging from 1 (Disagree Definitely) to 5 (Agree Definitely). The scale structure was established using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), specifically principal axis factoring, and subsequently validated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). This measure is valuable in research settings concerning intimate relationships, sexual health, and the identification of individuals who may be at risk for engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

Keywords

Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale, NSIS, sexual motivation, need for sex, need for affiliation, need for dominance, psychological assessment, sexual health, Henry Murray, close relationships.

Authors

William D. Marelich, Erin Shelton

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale (NSIS) is to provide a nuanced assessment of the complex motivations underpinning sexual behavior and interaction. Unlike traditional measures focusing solely on sexual desire or drive for intercourse, the NSIS specifically investigates relational and controlling elements that drive an individual toward sexual intimacy.

In clinical and public health applications, the NSIS is a critical tool for identifying populations with strong sexual intimacy motivations who may be predisposed to engaging in risky sexual behaviors, thus facilitating targeted primary prevention efforts. Furthermore, the scale is designed for use in general or college populations to advance research concerning the dynamics of intimate and close relationships, offering insights into how fundamental psychological needs manifest in sexual contexts.

Construct

The NSIS measures the overarching construct of need for sexual intimacy by decomposing it into three core motivational components, based on the established needs theory proposed by Henry Murray (1938).

• Need for Sex (8 items): This subscale addresses the fundamental drive related to the formation and progression of sexual relationships and physical sexual intercourse.
• Need for Affiliation (9 items): This component focuses on the individual’s requirement for affection, emotional closeness, and companionship within the intimate relationship context.
• Need for Dominance (5 items): This subscale assesses the individual’s need to control or influence their intimate environment and partner through means such as persuasion and seduction.

The scale consists of 22 items that collectively reflect these three distinct, yet potentially correlated, psychological needs. The confirmation of a broader, second-order factor suggests that these three needs converge to represent a general need for sexual intimacy.

Validity

The structural integrity of the NSIS was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the 22-item, three-factor solution derived from the initial principal axis factoring. The CFA demonstrated a good fit for the proposed factor structure.

Evidence for both Construct and Criterion Validity was established by examining the significant associations between the three subscales and a comprehensive battery of 21 items covering sexual communication, behaviors, attitudes toward relationships, and demographics. For instance, individuals scoring higher on the Need for Sex subscale reported higher numbers of sexual partners and one-night stands, and were less likely to use condoms. Conversely, those high in the Need for Affiliation were more truthful about their sexual history and highly valued being in a relationship. A second-order factor analysis further supported the validity of the measure, indicating that the three subscales reflect a broader, underlying need for sexual intimacy construct.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the three NSIS subscales was assessed using reliability coefficients (likely Cronbach’s Alpha), yielding acceptable to strong values:

• Need for Sex: .88
• Need for Affiliation: .82
• Need for Dominance: .74

These values suggest that the items within each subscale reliably measure their respective constructs. Currently, test-retest reliabilities for the NSIS are not available.

Factor Analysis

The development of the 22-item NSIS structure relied upon rigorous psychometric analysis. Initial structure was determined via principal axis factoring, employing an oblique rotation to permit correlation among the factors, which is theoretically expected in motivational needs.

The determination of precisely three factors was supported by standard statistical criteria, including parallel analysis and visual inspection of a scree plot, alongside the interpretability of the resulting factor solution. All 22 final items demonstrated sufficient pattern matrix loadings on at least one of the three derived factors. Notably, two of the factors—Need for Sex and Need for Dominance—showed a moderate correlation of .39.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological scale.

Format: 22 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Disagree Definitely to 5 = Agree Definitely).

Language Available: English (Original development).

Population Group: General and college populations.

Age Group: Adults/College-aged individuals, suitable for research on intimate relationships.

Population Details: Used for assessing sexual motivations, sexual health, and potential engagement in risky sexual behaviors.

Test Methodology: Pencil-and-paper or digital administration. The scale requires approximately 5 minutes for completion. A critical procedural note for test methodology is that items should be presented in a random order, mixing subscales to minimize response bias.

Scoring Details

The NSIS generates three separate mean scores, corresponding to the three subscales. Although a second-order factor analysis suggests the viability of a total score (Marelich & Lundquist, 2008), comprehensive psychometrics for a single total score are currently unavailable.

Scoring for each subscale is calculated by summing the scores of the corresponding items and dividing by the total number of items in that subscale to produce a mean score. Higher mean scores consistently indicate a higher need within that specific domain.

Specific Item Assignments and Coding:

• Need for Sex: Items 1–8
• Need for Affiliation: Items 9–17
• Need for Dominance: Items 18–22

Reverse Coding: Item 14 (“Nobody special in my life.”) must be reverse coded prior to calculating the Need for Affiliation subscale mean score.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (William D. Marelich)

Correspondence Address: William D. Marelich, Dept. of Psychology, CSU Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: The primary development and validation data were published in 2008.

Permissions and Fee: Correspondence regarding use, permissions, and fees should be directed to the corresponding author, William D. Marelich.

Reference’s

• Marelich, W. D., & Lundquist, J. (2008). Motivations for sexual intimacy: Development of a needs-based sexual intimacy scale. International Journal of Sexual Health, 20, 177–186.
• Murray, H. (1938). Explorations in personality. New York: Oxford University Press.

Items of the Need for Sexual Intimacy Scale

Directions: The next few items address things we may “need” in life. Some say we “need” many things in order to survive (e.g., food, shelter, etc.). Below we have presented a series of items and would like you to rate each item as to how much you agree or disagree with them as things you may “need.” The term “partner” below refers to a sexual partner (e.g. dating partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, long-term partner/spouse). Please read each statement carefully, and then fill in the blank ( ) with a number that corresponds to the scale description.

Disagree                           Agree

Definitely                      Definitely

1 2 3 4 5

I need . . .

1. To have more sex.
2. Sex every day.
3. To have an orgasm every day.
4. To let myself go sexually with someone.
5. Sex every couple of days.
6. Someone who is “great in bed.”
7. Sex with a lot of partners.
8. To take control of my partner when we are intimate.
9. A partner who loves me.
10. Somebody to love.
11. Companionship.
12. A companion in life.
13. Complete trust in the people I am intimate with.
14. Nobody special in my life. [R]
15. Somebody to hold my hand.
16. A few really good friends.
17. Someone to sleep next to me.
18. My partner to tell me where they are at all times.
19. Control over my partner.
20. My partner to give me what I want (such as financial support, clothes, a car).
21. A partner I can manipulate.
22. The ability to order my partner to have sex with me if I want to.