Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness

Abstract

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness (HISA) is a specialized psychological scale developed by David F. Hurlbert in 1991. It is designed to quantify the extent of an individual’s sexual assertiveness within the context of a committed sexual relationship. This self-report inventory consists of 25 items, scored using a 5-point Likert scale, providing researchers and clinicians with a quantifiable measure of an individual’s comfort level in initiating, communicating, and responding to sexual desires and boundaries.

Keywords

Sexual Assertiveness, HISA, Psychometrics, Relationship Assessment, Sexual Communication, Self-Report Inventory, David F. Hurlbert

Authors

David F. Hurlbert

Purpose

The primary purpose of the HISA is to assess the degree to which an individual expresses their sexual wants, needs, and boundaries effectively and comfortably within a relationship setting. It moves beyond simple measures of sexual activity, focusing instead on the behavioral and cognitive components that define sexual assertiveness.

The scale helps identify individuals who may struggle with passive or aggressive sexual communication patterns. High scores typically indicate comfort with initiating sex, communicating desires, setting limits (saying no), and generally taking an active, informed role in one’s sexual pleasure, making it a crucial diagnostic tool in sex therapy and relationship counseling.

Construct

The psychological construct measured by the HISA is Sexual Assertiveness. This construct encompasses several dimensions related to sexual self-efficacy and communication. It involves the ability to openly discuss sexual needs, fantasies, and preferences with a partner, as well as the capacity to refuse sexual activity when undesired or uncomfortable.

Specifically, the HISA measures behaviors such as initiating sexual activity, verbalizing pleasure or discomfort, insisting on mutual satisfaction, and exhibiting comfort with one’s own sexuality (e.g., masturbation). The inverse of this construct, sexual nonassertiveness, is characterized by reluctance, shyness, avoidance of discussion, and prioritizing the partner’s pleasure over one’s own, which can negatively impact sexual satisfaction and relationship quality.

Validity

While the initial publication by Hurlbert (1991) established the scale’s foundation, the validity of the HISA is primarily supported by its strong theoretical grounding in assertiveness training and sexual function literature. The original study used the scale in a comparative study, suggesting initial evidence of construct validity by successfully distinguishing between groups categorized as sexually assertive and sexually nonassertive women.

Subsequent research utilizing the HISA often reports correlations with measures of sexual satisfaction, relationship quality, and general self-esteem, providing further evidence of convergent validity. The face validity of the instrument is considered high, given the direct nature of the items concerning sexual communication and boundary setting.

Reliability

Specific internal consistency coefficients (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) for the HISA are typically reported in studies that utilize the scale, although these specific psychometrics were not detailed in the brief descriptive entry. Generally, scales measuring stable behavioral tendencies like assertiveness are expected to demonstrate high levels of internal reliability (alpha values typically above 0.80) to ensure the items consistently measure the same underlying trait.

The scale’s focused nature and length (25 items) also contribute to adequate test-retest reliability, ensuring that scores remain stable over short periods, provided no significant therapeutic intervention or relationship change has occurred between administrations.

Factor Analysis

Specific details regarding the initial factor analysis of the HISA are not explicitly detailed in the original descriptive publication. However, many subsequent academic applications treat the HISA as a unidimensional scale, calculating a single, global score that represents the overall level of sexual assertiveness.

Alternative exploratory factor analyses conducted by other researchers have sometimes suggested potential sub-factors, such as Communication of Desire, Boundary Setting, and Sexual Self-Acceptance. Nonetheless, the primary use of the HISA remains centered on its total score as the definitive measure of the construct.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report inventory; Psychological Assessment

Format: 25 items utilizing a 5-point frequency-based Likert scale. Response options are: 0 = All of the time, 1 = Most of the time, 2 = Some of the time, 3 = Rarely, 4 = Never.

Language Available: English (Original); translations may exist in subsequent cross-cultural research.

Population Group: Adults in a sexual relationship.

Age Group: 18+

Population Details: Although originally utilized in research focusing on female sexuality, the scale is applicable and commonly used for both male and female populations to assess sexual communication skills within intimate partnerships.

Test Methodology: Total scores are calculated by summing item responses. A crucial methodological step involves reverse-scoring specific items (3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 23) to ensure that a higher overall score consistently reflects a higher degree of assertiveness.

Keywords

HISA, Sexual Communication, Self-Efficacy, Sex Therapy, Reverse Scoring, Likert Scale, Relationship Dynamics

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: David F. Hurlbert, 140 Farnworth Lane Roswell, Georgia 30075

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness was first published and described in 1991. As the scale is published in an academic journal (Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy), information regarding current usage fees or formal copyright permissions for commercial use must typically be sought directly from the author or the journal publisher. The scale is widely accessible and utilized in non-commercial academic and clinical research settings.

Reference’s

Hurlbert, D. F. (1991). The role of assertiveness in female sexuality: A comparative study between sexually assertive and sexually nonassertive women. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 17, 183–190. The original descriptive publication is available via this citation.

Items of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness

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

This inventory is designed to measure the degree of sexual assertiveness you have in the sexual relationship with your partner. This is not a test, so there are no right or wrong answers. Please answer each item as accurately as you can by placing a number by each question as follows:

0 = All of the time 1 = Most of the time 2 = Some of the time 3 = Rarely 4 = Never

1. I feel uncomfortable talking during sex.
2. I feel that I am shy when it comes to sex.
3. I approach my partner for sex when I desire it.
4. I think I am open with my partner about my sexual needs.
5. I enjoy sharing my sexual fantasies with my partner.
6. I feel uncomfortable talking to my friends about sex.
7. I communicate my sexual desires to my partner.
8. It is difficult for me to touch myself during sex.
9. It is hard for me to say no even when I do not want sex.
10. I am reluctant to describe myself as a sexual person.
11. I feel uncomfortable telling my partner what feels good.
12. I speak up for my sexual feelings.
13. I am reluctant to insist that my partner satisfy me.
14. I find myself having sex when I do not really want it.
15. When a technique does not feel good, I tell my partner.
16. I feel comfortable giving sexual praise to my partner.
17. It is easy for me to discuss sex with my partner.
18. I feel comfortable in initiating sex with my partner.
19. I find myself doing sexual things that I do not like.
20. Pleasing my partner is more important than my pleasure.
21. I feel comfortable telling my partner how to touch me.
22. I enjoy masturbating myself to orgasm.
23. If something feels good, I insist on doing it again.
24. It is hard for me to be honest about my sexual feelings.
25. I try to avoid discussing the subject of sex.

Note. Reverse-score item numbers: 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 23.