Senior Adult Sexuality Scales

Abstract

The Senior Adult Sexuality Scales (SASS) is a comprehensive, multidimensional psychometrically sound instrument developed by Estelle Weinstein to assess key dimensions of sexuality among senior adults (defined as 60 years of age and older). The SASS is structured into five distinct parts that measure descriptive biographical information, sexual attitudes, sexual interests, and specific sexual activities. It was designed to provide researchers and clinicians with a robust tool for understanding the sexual lives of older populations, particularly focusing on the continuum of liberal versus conservative attitudes, the degree of interest in traditional versus experimental sexual behaviors, and the quantity of actual sexual activity.

The development process involved an initial pool of 100 items, refined into a 68-item preliminary questionnaire, and ultimately validated through extensive factor analysis on data collected from 314 respondents.

Keywords

Senior adult sexuality, SASS, sexual attitudes, sexual interest, sexual activities, geriatric psychology, psychometric scale, sexology, aging.

Authors

Estelle Weinstein.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Senior Adult Sexuality Scales (SASS) is to provide a standardized, multidimensional measurement tool for researchers studying sexuality in adults aged 60 and above. It aims to quantify three distinct yet interrelated constructs: the respondent’s disposition toward various sexual concepts (attitudes), their level of desire or preference for a range of activities (interests), and the actual frequency of specific sexual behaviors (activities).

By assessing these components separately, the SASS allows for nuanced comparisons between groups (e.g., those in age-segregated versus age-integrated living arrangements) and provides insight into the continuum of sexual orientation, ranging from conservative to liberal viewpoints.

Construct

The SASS measures three main hypothesized constructs, which were successfully validated during the instrument’s development:

• Sexual Attitude: This scale measures the extent to which an individual holds liberal or conservative beliefs regarding various sexually related activities and concepts, such as premarital and extramarital sex, abortion, contraception, and masturbation.
• Sexual Interest: This construct encompasses the feeling of concern for, desire for, or preference for a specific set of sexual activities, regardless of whether the individual currently participates in them. Factor analysis revealed two distinct subscales for interest:
  • The Experimental Subscale (Part III, A) covers behaviors involving partner choices (e.g., group sex, nonmarital sex, sex with considerably younger partners).
  • The Traditional Subscale (Part III, B) covers intimate sexual behaviors such as kissing, petting, intercourse, and orgasm.
• Sexual Activity: This construct refers to the wide range of behaviors involved in sexual expression and interaction. The scale measures the frequency (quantity) of specific activities such as sexual intercourse, cuddling, petting, sexual initiation, and orgasm.

Validity

Both Face validity and Content validity were established early in the development process through a review conducted by five professionals and five senior adults. This review ensured clarity of items and applicability to the desired constructs (attitudes, interests, and activities).

Construct validity was strongly confirmed through the results of the factor analysis. The analysis demonstrated that items within each scale and subscale intercorrelated strongly and loaded separately on their respective factors, showing no significant overlap. The use of an orthogonal rotation solution further supported the distinctness of the factors, providing additional confirmation of construct validity. Furthermore, the practical application of the SASS in research—such as studies detecting significant differences in sexual variables between senior adults in age-segregated versus age-integrated living arrangements (Weinstein, 1984)—serves to reinforce the instrument’s ability to measure the intended constructs.

Reliability

The internal consistency reliability of the SASS scales was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (Nunnally, 1978). The results indicated respectable levels of reliability for the attitude and interest components:

• Sexual Attitude Scale (Part II): Alpha coefficient of .87.
• Sexual Interest Scale, Part A (Experimental): Alpha coefficient of .90.
• Sexual Interest Scale, Part B (Traditional): Alpha coefficient of .84.

The Sexual Activities Scale (Part IV) demonstrated a somewhat lower, though acceptable, reliability coefficient of .66.

Factor Analysis

The preliminary SASS questionnaire (68 items) was subjected to a principal axis factor analysis using squared multiple correlation coefficients as initial estimates of communality. The analysis involved 314 respondents.

Criteria for determining the optimal number of factors included examining the proportion of variance (POV) accounted for, factors with eigenvalues greater than 1, and the substantive interpretability of the results. The most robust solution identified was a four-factor model, which accounted for 51% of the common factor variance. This solution strongly substantiated the three initially hypothesized constructs (Attitudes, Interests, Activities), with the modification that the Sexual Interest construct separated into two distinct factors: the Traditional and Experimental subscales. Both orthogonal and oblique rotations were explored, but because the oblique solution revealed no meaningful correlations among the factors, the orthogonal solution was utilized to interpret the final factors and select the items for inclusion.

Items retained in the final scales had factor loadings of .4 or more on one factor and less than .4 on all other factors, ensuring that each final scale consisted of a homogeneous set of items influenced by a single major factor (Allen & Yen, 1979).

Instrument

Test Type: Multidimensional Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: Paper-and-pencil questionnaire requiring circling numbers, checking boxes, or filling in frequency rates.

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: Senior Adults

Age Group: 60+

Population Details: The scale was developed based on data from 314 respondents.

Test Methodology: The instrument is divided into five parts. Parts II and III use a 7-point Likert-type scale for attitudes and interests, respectively. Part IV uses a unique frequency response format (times per day/week/month/year/never) which requires statistical conversion to a common denominator for comparative analysis. The average completion time is 30 to 40 minutes.

Keywords

Sexual measurement, psychometrics, geriatric care, retirement living, sexual health, scale development, factor loadings, reliability coefficient.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in the source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Estelle Weinstein, Department of Health Professions and Family Studies, Hofstra University, Hempstead, Long Island, NY 11549.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The full SASS (preliminary and final versions) is available directly from the author, Estelle Weinstein. The scale was published and discussed in academic journals starting in 1988 (Weinstein & Rosen, 1988, 1989), with initial research supporting the scale dating back to 1984 (Weinstein, 1984).

The original PDF outlining the scale details is not provided in the source content, but the scale has been published in academic literature.

Reference’s

Allen, M. J., & Yen, W. M. (1979). Introduction to measurement theory. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Kirby, D., Alter, J., & Scales, P. (1979). An analysis of U.S. sex education programs and evaluation methods. Springfield, VA: National Technical Information Service.

Nunnally, J. (1978). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill. Weinstein, E. (1984). Senior adult sexuality-community living styles. Dissertation Abstracts International. (University Microfilms No. 1015, 3)

Weinstein, E., & Rosen, E. (1988). Senior adult sexuality in age-segregated and age-integrated living styles. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 27, 261–270.

Weinstein, E., & Rosen, E. (1989). A new senior adult sexuality scale for assessing sexual attitudes, interests and activities. In R. Harris & S. Harris (Eds.), Physical activity, aging, and sports, Volume I: Scientific and medical aspects. Albany, NY: Center for the Study of Aging.

Items of the Senior Adult Sexuality Scales

Biographical Information I (Part I)

Instructions: Please answer all questions by placing a check or a statement in the appropriate space provided.

1. Relationship Status:

   Married         

   Committed Partners         

   Remarried         

   Single         

   Divorced         

   Widowed         

   Separated     Other (specify)         

2. If remarried or in a committed partnership:

   More than 10 years    Less than 10 years         

3. How many children do your have?

   None         

   One         

   Two         

   Three         

   Four or More         

4. Education:

   Completed Elementary School         

   Some High School         

   College Graduate    Some College         

   Other (specify)    Graduate School         

5. Religious Affiliation:

   Catholic         

   Protestant         

   Jewish         

   Other (specify)         

6. How religious do you consider yourself?

   Very Religious    Moderately Religious         

   Somewhat Religious    Not Religious         

7. State of Retirement: Fully Retired         

   Partially Retired         

   Full-Time Employed         

8. How would you rate your present state of health?

   Excellent         

   Good         

   Fair         

   Poor        

9. Lifetime Occupation (i.e., homemaker, salesperson, executive, lawyer, etc.):

10. Current income from all sources:

    Under $15,000        

    Between $15–25,000         

    Between $25–35,000         

    Between $35–50,000    Above $50,000         

11. Type of community in which you are living more than half of each year:

    Small Town         

    Small City         

    Large City         

    Retirement Community    Suburban Community         

12. If you checked retirement type community in question 11, where was the original residence in which you spent the major portion of your working life?

    Small Town        

    Small City        

    Large City        

    Suburban Community    Other (specify)        

13. What is your age?     years

14. What is your sex?    Female      Male

Senior Adult Sexuality Scales (SASS) (Part II)

Attitudes—Scale I

1. I think there is too much sexual freedom today.a

2. Abortion is a greater evil than bringing an unwanted child into the world.

3. Sexual activity amongst older single senior citizens is not acceptable behavior.

4. Premarital sexual intercourse is morally wrong.

5. Women should not initiate sexual activity as often as men.

6. Stronger laws should be passed to curb homosexuality.

7. Frequent desire for oral-genital sex is an indicator of an excessive sex drive.

8. Sexual intercourse should only occur between married partners.

9. Masturbation is generally an unhealthy practice.

10. Sexual activity between young adults simply for enjoyment is unacceptable behavior.

11. Men who lose their spouses generally need sexual activity more frequently than women who lose their spouses.

12. Women should not experience sexual intercourse with their mate prior to marriage.

13. I think people are too sexually active today.

14. Laws should be passed to ban pornography.

15. Too much information about sex and contraception is available to young people today.

16. Modern attitudes and morals about sex are responsible for the breakdown in the American family.

Senior Adult Sexuality Scales (SASS) (Part III)

Interest—Scale II Part A

1. Having sex with someone I have recently metb

2. Stimulating my own genitals until climax (ejaculation, orgasm)

3. Having sex with someone other than my spouse or regular mate

4. Having sex with more than one partner at a time (group sex)

5. Having sex with partners considerably younger than myself

6. Watching sex movies

7. Reading sex books or magazines

8. Receiving oral sex to climax (ejaculation, orgasm)

9. Receiving oral sex until partner reaches climax

10. Extramarital/extra committed partner sex activity

Part B

1. Kissing, cuddling, touching, petting

2. Having my breasts stroked or kissed

3. Body massage as sex play

4. Having sex in the shower

5. Extended foreplay that leads to intercourse

6. Sex only with someone of the opposite sex

7. Talking about sex with my partner

Senior Adult Sexuality Scales (SASS) (Part IV)

Activities—Scale III

1. How often do you engage in sexual intercourse?

       times per day    times per week    times per month

       times per year    neverc

2. How often do you engage in touching, cuddling, petting as foreplay to sexual intercourse?

3. How often do you engage in oral sex as foreplay to sexual intercourse?

4. How often do you reach orgasm (climax)?

5. How often do you use a vibrator or other objects for sexual stimulation with a partner?

• How often do you initiate (start) sexual activity with your partner?

Senior Adult Sexuality Scales (SASS) (Part V)

Biographical Information II

1. 1. How would you rate your current participation in athletic activities?d

   2. How would you rate your participation in athletic activities when you were 35–45 years old?

   3. How would you rate your current participation in social functions?

   4. How would you rate your participation in social functions when you were 35–45 years old?

   5. How would you rate your current participation in sexual activities?

   6. How would you rate your participation in sexual activities when you were 35–45 years old?

   7. How would you rate your current interest in sexual activities, if it were available whenever you wanted it?e

   8. How would you rate your interest in sexual activity when you were 35–45 years old?

   9. How would you rate your current sexual attitudes?f

   10. How would you rate your sexual attitudes when you were 35–45 years old?

   11. (Circle the appropriate statement) Do you consider yourself a:

       Heterosexual person (preference for sexual partner of opposite sex) Homosexual person (preference for sexual partner of same sex) Bisexual person (can prefer sexual partner of either sex)