The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ)

Abstract

The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ) is a comprehensive and objective self-report measure developed by Snell, Fisher, and Walters (1993) to assess the complex psychological landscape of human sexuality. Moving beyond traditional assessments focused narrowly on behavior or physiological arousal, the MSQ captures intricate cognitive, affective, and motivational components that define an individual’s sexual life. The instrument comprises 60 items distributed across eight empirically derived subscales, offering a nuanced profile of how individuals perceive, experience, and manage their sexual functioning. The MSQ utilizes a Likert-type response format, allowing researchers and clinicians to quantify dimensions critical for understanding sexual adjustment, including sexual self-esteem, anxiety, assertiveness, and perceived control over sexual outcomes.

Keywords

Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire, MSQ, sexual self-concept, sexual assessment, sexual anxiety, sexual assertiveness, locus of control, sexual motivation, psychological tendencies, sexual adjustment

Authors

Warren E. Snell, Jr., T. D. Fisher, A. S. Walters

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ) was to introduce a robust and multifaceted measure of psychological characteristics related to sexuality, dimensions often neglected by simpler behavioral inventories available prior to 1993. The developers sought to operationalize the internal, cognitive, and emotional experience of sexuality, rather than just the frequency of sexual behaviors or basic relationship satisfaction.

Specifically, the scale was designed to differentiate between distinct psychological dimensions, allowing for the empirical exploration of the complex interplay among self-perception (e.g., sexual self-esteem), motivational drives (e.g., sexual preoccupation), and emotional regulation (e.g., sexual anxiety) within the context of sexual health. This detailed, multidimensional approach facilitates a deeper understanding of individual differences in sexual adjustment and informs targeted clinical interventions.

Construct

The MSQ is fundamentally based on the theoretical premise that sexuality is not a monolithic trait but rather a composite of interrelated psychological tendencies and beliefs. The full 60-item scale is structured around eight distinct factors, each representing a core psychological dimension of sexual experience, measured using self-report items rated on a 5-point Likert scale.

The eight primary constructs measured by the MSQ are:

• Sexual Self-Esteem: Reflects an individual’s confidence and positive evaluation of themselves as a sexual being and partner.
• Sexual Preoccupation: Measures the extent to which an individual frequently thinks about, obsesses over, or is highly focused on sexual matters.
• Sexual Locus of Control: Assesses beliefs regarding whether the sexual aspects of life are controlled internally (by one’s own actions and efforts) or externally (by fate, luck, or other people).
• Sexual Monitoring: Represents the degree of self-awareness and vigilance concerning one’s own sexual feelings, motivations, and behavioral tendencies.
• Sexual Motivation: Captures the internal drive, desire, and effort expended toward seeking or maintaining sexual activity.
• Sexual Anxiety/Fear: Quantifies feelings of worry, nervousness, or apprehension associated with sexual aspects of life or specific sexual encounters.
• Sexual Assertiveness: Measures the capacity and willingness to clearly and confidently communicate sexual desires, preferences, and boundaries to a partner.
• Sexual Satisfaction/Depression: Reflects overall contentment with current sexual relationships and experiences, contrasted with feelings of sadness, disappointment, or discouragement regarding one’s sexual life.

Validity

Initial validation studies, including an unpublished manuscript by Fisher and Snell (1995), provided compelling evidence supporting the construct and concurrent validity of the MSQ. The construct validity was confirmed by a clear and robust factor structure that corresponded precisely to the eight hypothesized psychological dimensions.

Furthermore, the scales demonstrated concurrent validity through theoretically consistent correlations with external criterion measures. For instance, high scores on Sexual Self-Esteem were found to correlate positively with general self-esteem and overall relationship satisfaction. Conversely, high scores on Sexual Anxiety/Fear showed positive correlations with general measures of neuroticism and psychological distress. These consistent patterns affirmed that the MSQ measures unique, yet related, aspects of sexual functioning, providing strong support for the scale’s psychometric properties.

Reliability

The MSQ demonstrates strong internal consistency across its eight subscales. Reliability analyses conducted during the development phase consistently reported Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from .70 to .90 for the various factors. This high level of internal consistency indicates that the items within each factor reliably measure the intended underlying construct. Subscales such as Sexual Self-Esteem and Sexual Motivation typically exhibit the highest internal reliability figures.

In addition to internal consistency, test-retest reliability studies have confirmed the stability of MSQ scores over short intervals (e.g., 2 to 4 weeks), with coefficients generally exceeding .80. This stability confirms that the MSQ measures enduring psychological traits related to sexuality rather than transient emotional states, making the instrument highly suitable for longitudinal research designs and clinical baseline assessments.

Factor Analysis

The development and refinement of the MSQ relied heavily on advanced statistical methods, specifically factor analysis, to confirm its hypothesized multidimensional structure. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and subsequent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted across diverse research samples consistently supported the eight-factor model.

This rigorous statistical validation confirmed that the 60 items load cleanly onto their respective factors, demonstrating minimal cross-loading and establishing strong discriminant validity between the subscales. The resulting factors accounted for a significant portion of the variance in participant responses, validating the theoretical framework that sexual psychological adjustment is best understood through multiple, independent dimensions rather than a single global score. This rigorous approach solidified the MSQ as an objective self-report measure of psychological tendencies associated with sexuality.

Instrument

Test Type: Objective Self-Report Inventory

Format: 60 items utilizing a 5-point Likert-type scale, ranging from A = Not at all characteristic of me to E = Very characteristic of me. Four items (19, 31, 47, and 50) are reverse coded (R).

Language Available: Primarily English; adaptations may exist in other languages based on subsequent research.

Population Group: General adult population (including heterosexual and non-heterosexual individuals).

Age Group: Adolescents and adults (typically 18 years and older).

Population Details: Originally validated using university student populations, subsequent research has expanded its use across varied demographic groups, confirming its applicability to the general adult population.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate the degree to which each statement is characteristic of them. The final item (61) asks respondents to specify whether their responses were based on a current, past, or imagined sexual relationship.

Keywords

Sexual self-esteem, sexual depression, psychometrics, sexual health, sex research, personality, self-report, psychological measurement, sexual adjustment, sexual relationships

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ) was initially developed and published in 1993 in the journal Annals of Sex Research. The instrument is generally available for non-commercial academic and research use, though formal implementation requires seeking direct permission from the primary author or the managing institution. The scale has historically been made available online for research purposes via the authors’ affiliated university websites. Researchers interested in utilizing the scale should consult the original sources for current permission requirements.

Reference’s

Snell, W. E., Jr., Fisher, T. D., & Walters, A. S. (1993). The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire: An objective self-report measure of psychological tendencies associated with sexuality. Annals of Sex Research, 6, 27-55.

Fisher, T. D., Snell, W. E., Jr. (1995). Validation of the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript, The Ohio University at Mansfield.

The instrument can be found online at: http://www4.semo.edu/snell/scales/MSQ.htm and http://www4.semo.edu/snell/TESTING.HTM

Items of the The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ)

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

1. I am confident about myself as a sexual partner.

2. I think about sex all the time.

3. My sexuality is something that I am largely responsible for.

4. I am very aware of my sexual feelings.

5. I’m very motivated to be sexually active.

6. I feel anxious when I think about the sexual aspects of my life.

7. I’m very assertive about the sexual aspects of my life.

8. I am depressed about the sexual aspects of my life.

9. The sexual aspects of my life are determined mostly by chance happenings.

10. I sometimes wonder what others think of the sexual aspects of my life.

11. I am somewhat afraid of becoming sexually involved with another person.

12. I am very satisfied with the way my sexual needs are currently being met.

13. I am a pretty good sexual partner.

14. I think about sex more than anything else.

15. The sexual aspects of my life are determined in large part by my own behavior.

16. I’m very aware of my sexual motivations.

17. I’m strongly motivated to devote time and effort to sex.

18. I’m worried about the sexual aspects of my life.

19. I’m not very direct about voicing my sexual preferences. (R)

20. I am disappointed about the quality of my sex life.

21. Most things that affect the sexual aspects of my life happen to me by accident.

22. I’m very concerned with how others evaluate the sexual aspects of my life.

23. I sometimes have a fear of sexual relationships.

24. I am very satisfied with my sexual relationship.

25. I am better at sex than most other people.

26. I tend to be preoccupied with sex.

27. I am in control of the sexual aspects of my life.

28. I tend to think about my sexual feelings.

29. I have a strong desire to be sexually active.

30. Thinking about the sexual aspects of my life leaves me with an uneasy feeling.

31. I am somewhat passive about expressing my sexual desires. (R)

32. I feel discouraged about my sex life.

33. Luck plays a big part in influencing the sexual aspects of my life.

34. I’m very aware of what others think of the sexual aspects of my life.

35. I sometimes am fearful of sexual activity.

36. My sexual relationship meets my original expectations.

37. I would rate myself pretty favorably as a sexual partner.

38. I’m constantly thinking about ha‎ving sex.

39. The main thing which affects the sexual aspects of my life is what I myself do.

40. I’m very alert to changes in my sexual desires.

41. It’s really important to me that I involve myself in sexual activity.

42. I usually worry about the sexual aspects of my life.

43. I do not hesitate to ask for what I want in a sexual relationship.

44. I feel unhappy about my sexual relationships.

45. The sexual aspects of my life are largely a matter of (good or bad) fortune.

46. I’m concerned about how the sexual aspect of my life appears to others.

47. I don’t have very much fear about engaging in sex. (R)

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 am in ch‎arge of.

52. I am very aware of my sexual tendencies.

53. I strive to keep myself sexually active.

54. I feel nervous when I think about the sexual aspects of my life.

55. When it comes to sex‚ I usually ask 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 about what other people think of the sexual aspects of my life.

59. I’m not very afraid of becoming sexually active. (R)

60. I am very satisfied with the sexual aspects of my life.

61. I responded to the above items based on:

1. A current sexual relationship.
2. A past sexual relationship.
3. An imagined sexual relationship.

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.

reverse coded (items 19‚ 31‚ 47‚ and 50)