Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire

Abstract

The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire (MSAQ) is a 56-item self-report questionnaire developed by William E. Snell, Jr. (1992) to systematically assess the diverse ways individuals approach their sexual relationships. The instrument is designed to capture eight distinct sexual styles, moving beyond simplistic categorizations to explore complex dynamics such as caring versus exchange perspectives.

Subjects respond to statements using a 5-point Likert-type scale, ranging from “agree” (+2) to “disagree” (-2). The scale provides subscale scores corresponding to each of the eight measured approaches. Initial research using the MSAQ demonstrated significant relationships between these sexual styles and respondents’ broader sexual attitudes, love attitudes, and various demographic and psychosocial variables.

Keywords

Sexual styles, sexual relationships, sexual attitudes, love attitudes, self-report, sexual approach, relationship dynamics, sexual communion, sexual exchange.

Authors

William E. Snell, Jr.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire (MSAQ) is to provide a detailed, multifaceted assessment of how individuals conceptualize and engage in their intimate and sexual relationships. It was specifically designed to capture the complexity of relational dynamics by measuring eight separate, empirically derived approaches to sexual relations, rather than relying on a single, monolithic score.

The scale allows researchers and clinicians to identify specific sexual orientations, such as whether an individual adopts a selfless, altruistic approach, a calculating exchange approach, or a deeply companionate style. By measuring these distinct profiles, the MSAQ facilitates a deeper understanding of how these styles relate to broader psychological constructs and relationship outcomes (Snell, 1992).

Construct

The MSAQ measures the construct of Sexual Styles, defined as the characteristic orientations or patterns of behavior and belief that individuals adopt in their sexual relationships. This construct is inherently multidimensional, encompassing eight distinct factors that dictate how an individual interacts with a partner sexually. These dimensions were based on earlier theoretical work (Hughes & Snell, 1990) and include:

• Passionate/Romantic Approach: Characterized by intense sexual attraction, idealization, and strong emotional “chemistry” toward the partner.
• Game-Playing Approach: Involves maintaining uncertainty, strategic non-disclosure, and a potential willingness to end the relationship easily.
• Companionate/Friendship Approach: Sexual intimacy that develops slowly and is firmly rooted in a deep, mutual friendship and care.
• Practical/Logical Approach: A calculated method of selecting a partner based on rational criteria such as career potential, family reflection, background similarities, and suitability as a parent.
• Dependent/Possessive Approach: Defined by extreme emotional attachment, distress, despondency, and obsessive reactions to perceived sexual neglect or potential infidelity.
• Altruistic/Selfless Approach: An all-giving style where the individual consistently prioritizes the partner’s sexual needs and satisfaction, often forsaking their own.
• Communal Approach (Sexual Communion): A sensitive style emphasizing mutual caring, concern, and responsiveness to the partner’s sexual needs and preferences.
• Exchange Approach (Sexual Exchange): A quid pro quo orientation where sexual activities and favors are tracked, and repayment or reciprocation is explicitly expected in the future of the relationship.

Validity

The validity of the MSAQ was investigated by examining correlations between the sexual styles and various psychosocial and attitudinal measures (Snell, 1992). The findings supported the theoretical distinctions made by the scale.

Specific findings demonstrated expected connections: for instance, among males, a friendly, companionate approach was related to sensitivity and selflessness, while a game-playing style correlated directly with a logical, rational approach to sexual relations. Gender differences in endorsement were also noted, with males reporting higher scores on the altruistic sexual style, whereas females showed a greater rejection of the exchange approach to sex.

Furthermore, convergent validity was established through relationships with sexual attitudes. Sexually permissive attitudes were positively associated with the game-playing style. Conversely, sexually responsible attitudes regarding contraceptives were linked to a sensitive, caring sexual style. A sexual attitude favoring idealized communal sex, as measured by the Sexual Attitudes Scale (Hendrick & Hendrick, 1987), showed strong positive associations with five MSAQ styles: passionate, companionate, possessive, selfless, and caring approaches.

Reliability

The internal consistency reliability of the MSAQ subscales was determined by calculating Cronbach alpha coefficients, analyzed separately for male and female respondents, as well as for the combined sample (Snell, 1992). The results demonstrated high internal reliability across all subscales for both genders.

The Cronbach alpha coefficients ranged from a low of 0.72 (for males) and 0.73 (for females) to a high of 0.92 (for males) and 0.85 (for females). The average alpha coefficient was 0.80 for males and 0.78 for females, confirming that the items within each subscale consistently measure the intended underlying sexual style.

Factor Analysis

The underlying structure of the MSAQ was confirmed using a varimax factor analysis with an orthogonal rotation. This statistical procedure was applied to the 56 items to determine the number of distinct dimensions being measured.

The analysis successfully extracted eight factors. These eight factors corresponded precisely to the eight theoretical approaches to sexual relations that the MSAQ was designed to assess, thus providing robust empirical support for the instrument’s multidimensional structure and subscale composition.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire, psychometric scale

Format: 56 items measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale (A=Strongly Agree (+2) to E=Strongly Disagree (-2)). No items are reverse scored.

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: Adults/Individuals engaged in or reflecting upon sexual relationships

Age Group: Not specified, typically adult populations

Population Details: Originally developed using a university sample.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their responses on a computer scan sheet. Subscale scores are created by summing the seven item scores assigned to each subscale. Subscale scores range from –14 to 14. Completion time is approximately 15–20 minutes.

Keywords

Sexual styles, relationship research, intimacy, psychometrics, sexual behavior, dating, love styles, gender differences.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: William E. Snell, Jr., Department of Psychology, Southeast Missouri State University, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1992 (Snell, 1992)

Permissions and Fees: Information regarding current permissions and fees for research or clinical use should be obtained directly from the corresponding author, William E. Snell, Jr.

Reference’s

Hendrick, S. S., & Hendrick, C. (1987). Multidimensionality of sexual attitudes. The Journal of Sex Research, 23, 502–526.

Hughes, T. G., & Snell, W. E., Jr. (1990). Communal and exchange approaches to sexual relations. Annals of Sex Research, 3, 149–164.

Snell, W. E., Jr. (1992, April). Sexual styles: A multidimensional approach to sexual relations. Presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Austin, TX.

Items of the Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire

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

Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire

Instructions: Listed below are several statements that reflect different attitudes about sex. For each statement fill in the response on the answer sheet that indicates how much you agree or disagree with that statement. Some of the items refer to a specific sexual relation- ship, while others refer to general attitudes and beliefs about sex. Whenever possible, answer the questions with your current partner in mind. If you are not currently dating anyone, answer the questions with your most recent partner in mind. If you have never had a sexual relationship, answer in terms of what you think your responses would most likely be in a future sexual relationship. For each statement:

A = Strongly agree with the statement.

B = Moderately agree with the statement.

C = Neutral—Neither agree nor disagree.

D = Moderately disagree with the statement.

E = Strongly disagree with the statement.

1. I was sexually attracted to my partner immediately after we first met.
2. I feel a strong sexual “chemistry” toward my partner.
3. I have a very intense and satisfying sexual relationship with my partner.
4. I was sexually meant for my partner.
5. I became sexually involved rather quickly with my partner.
6. I have a strong sexual understanding of my partner.
7. My partner fits my notion of the ideal sexual partner.
8. I try to keep my partner a little uncertain about my sexual commitment to him/her.
9. I believe that what my partner doesn’t know about my sexual activity won’t hurt him/her.
10. I have not always told my partner about my previous sexual experiences.
11. I could end my sexual relationship with my partner rather easily and quickly.
12. My partner wouldn’t like hearing about some of the sexual experiences I’ve had with others.
13. When my partner becomes too sexually involved with me, I want to back off a little.
14. I like playing around with a number of people, including my partner and others.
15. The sexual relationship between myself and my partner started off rather slowly.
16. I had to “care” for my partner before I could make love to him/her.
17. I expect to always be a friend of my sexual partner.
18. The sex I have with my partner is better because it was preceded by a long friendship.
19. I was a friend of my sexual partner before we became lovers.
20. The sex my partner and I have is based on a deep friendship, not something mystical and mysterious.
21. Sex with my partner is highly satisfying because it developed out of a good friendship.
22. Before I made love with my partner, I spent some time evaluating her/his career potential.
23. I planned my life in a careful manner before I chose my sexual partner.
24. One of the reasons I chose my sexual partner is because of our similar backgrounds.
25. Before I made love with my sexual partner, I considered how s/he would reflect on my family.
26. It was important to me that my sexual partner be a good parent.
27. I thought about the implications for my career before I made love with my sexual partner.
28. I didn’t have sex with my partner until after I had considered our hereditary backgrounds.
29. When sex with my partner isn’t going right, I become upset.
30. If my sexual relationship with my partner ended, I would become extremely despondent and depressed.
31. Sometimes I am so sexually attracted to my partner that I simply can’t sleep.
32. When my partner sexually ignores me, I feel really sick.
33. Since my partner and I started having sex, I have not been able to concentrate on anything else.
34. If my partner became sexually involved with someone else, I wouldn’t be able to take it.
35. If my partner doesn’t have sex with me for a while, I sometimes do stupid things to get her/his sexual attention.
36. If my partner were having a sexual difficulty, I would definitely try to help as much as I could.
37. I would rather have a sexual problem myself than let my partner suffer though one.
38. I could never be sexually satisfied unless first my partner was sexually satisfied.
39. I am usually willing to forsake my own sexual needs in order to let my partner achieve her/his own sexual needs.
40. My partner can use me the way s/he chooses in order for him/her to be sexually satisfied.
41. When my partner is sexually dissatisfied with me, I still accept him/her without reservations.
42. I would do practically any sexual activity that my partner wanted.‌
43. It would bother me if my sexual partner neglected my needs.
44. If I were to make love with a sexual partner, I’d take that person’s needs and feelings into account.
45. If a sexual partner were to do something sensual for me, I’d try to do the same for him/her.
46. I expect a sexual partner to be responsive to my sexual needs and feelings.
47. I would be willing to go out of my way to satisfy my sexual partner.
48. If I were feeling sexually needy, I’d ask my sexual partner for help.
49. If a sexual partner were to ignore my sexual needs, I’d feel hurt.
50. I think people should feel obligated to repay an intimate partner for sexual favors.
51. I would feel somewhat exploited if an intimate partner failed to repay me for a sexual favor.
52. I would probably keep track of the times a sexual partner asked me for a sensual pleasure.
53. When a person receives sexual pleasures from another, s/he ought to repay that person right away.
54. It’s best to make sure things are always kept “even” between two people in a sexual relationship.
55. I would do a special sexual favor for an intimate partner, only if that person did some special sexual favor for me.
56. If my sexual partner performed a sexual request for me, I would probably feel that I’d have to repay him/her later on.
57. I responded to the following items based on:

• A current sexual relationship.
• A past sexual relationship.
• An imagined sexual relationship.