Sex Anxiety Inventory (Revised)

Abstract

The Sex Anxiety Inventory (SAI), originally introduced by Janda and O’Grady in 1980, is a widely recognized psychological instrument developed to quantify individual levels of Sexual Anxiety. The subsequent revision, known as the SAI-R, expands the original measure into a 27-item scale, offering a more nuanced and context-specific assessment of apprehension related to sexual behavior and interpersonal interactions. This revised inventory is distinguished by a three-factor structure that allows researchers and clinicians to differentiate between anxiety arising from private sexual cognitions, anxiety concerning casual or non-monogamous sexual behavior, and anxiety experienced in social settings involving sexual themes or initiation. The scale employs a forced-choice response format, requiring respondents to select one of two options that reflects either an anxious/negative or a relaxed/positive reaction to a sexual scenario, thereby providing clear and quantifiable data on domain-specific sexual apprehension.

Keywords

Sexual anxiety, psychometric scale, sexual health, sex guilt, psychological assessment, Janda, O’Grady, factor structure, sex research, emotional apprehension.

Authors

L. H. Janda, E. E. O’Grady (Original Development), Sobia F. Ali-Faisal (Revision/Application Context).

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Sex Anxiety Inventory (Revised) is to provide a highly reliable and valid measure of anxiety specifically elicited by sexual thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. The SAI-R is utilized extensively in sex therapy research and clinical settings to accurately identify individuals suffering from clinically significant sexual apprehension, which can substantially interfere with intimacy, sexual function, and overall well-being. By segmenting anxiety into specific contexts—such as private self-reflection versus public social interaction—the SAI-R facilitates the development and implementation of targeted therapeutic interventions.

The instrument is specifically engineered to capture anxiety that is domain-specific to sexual stimuli, encompassing both direct sexual experiences (e.g., performance, arousal anticipation) and indirect social situations (e.g., flirting, discussing sexual topics). The forced-choice response methodology is a deliberate design feature intended to minimize respondent ambiguity, compelling the individual to choose the response that best characterizes their typical emotional or behavioral reaction to the situation described.

Construct

The Sex Anxiety Inventory (Revised) is designed to measure the complex psychological construct of Sexual Anxiety. This construct is formally defined as a state of tension, worry, or apprehension that manifests in response to actual or perceived sexual stimuli, situations, or expectations. Crucially, sexual anxiety is domain-specific, differentiating it from generalized anxiety. Its origins are often deeply rooted in cultural norms, personal negative experiences, fear of performance failure, or concerns about judgment or discovery.

The revised scale acknowledges that sexual anxiety is not monolithic but rather multidimensional. The three factors identified through Factor Analysis reflect distinct facets of this construct: internal emotional and cognitive responses (private behaviors), moral or relational concerns (e.g., extramarital or casual sex), and interpersonal discomfort (anxiety in social situations). This comprehensive differentiation is vital for researchers aiming to clarify the intricate relationships between sexual attitudes, guilt, and resulting behavioral apprehension.

Validity

The validity of both the original SAI and its subsequent revisions is generally established through rigorous psychometric testing, including comparative analysis with established measures of general anxiety and sexual guilt. The scale demonstrates robust construct validity, evidenced by its distinct factor structure that aligns logically and theoretically with known dimensions of human sexual experience.

Research applications of the SAI-R, notably the 2014 study by Ali-Faisal, confirm the scale’s ability to effectively discriminate between individuals based on their levels of sexual comfort and their adherence to stricter sexual attitudes, particularly when scores are correlated with measures of sexual guilt (such as the Mosher Sex-Guilt Scale). Convergent validity is typically supported by positive correlations with other scales that measure negative sexual affect, while discriminant validity is confirmed by lower correlations with measures of general personality traits that are unrelated to sexual functioning or anxiety.

Reliability

The Sex Anxiety Inventory (Revised) exhibits high reliability, indicating substantial consistency and stability in its measurement. Studies examining the scale’s internal consistency, which is conventionally measured using Cronbach’s alpha, consistently report coefficients that meet or exceed standard psychological requirements, often ranging from .80 to .90 for the total scale score. This high internal consistency suggests that the 27 constituent items reliably measure the same underlying construct of sexual anxiety.

Furthermore, test-retest reliability is generally reported as strong, confirming that the measure yields stable scores over time for individuals whose underlying levels of sexual anxiety are not expected to change significantly. The revision process included item refinement specifically aimed at maximizing reliability across the three distinct subscales, ensuring that each factor provides a robust and consistent measure of its intended domain.

Factor Analysis

The revised version of the Sex Anxiety Inventory (SAI-R) is characterized by a robust three-factor structure, which was established through both exploratory and confirmatory Factor Analysis. This structure provides a segmented and detailed framework for understanding how sexual anxiety manifests across different behavioral and emotional contexts. The 27 items load distinctly onto the following three factors:

• Factor 1: Private sexual behaviours, cognitions, and emotions. This factor focuses on internal states, personal sexual responses, and subjective feelings about one’s own sexual thoughts or actions, including feelings related to masturbation, sexual desires, and the personal initiation of sex.
• Factor 2: Extramarital or casual sex. This dimension assesses anxiety and negative attitudes related to non-traditional or socially disapproved sexual activities, such as Extramarital Sex, group sex, and casual encounters. This factor often correlates significantly with measures of moralistic sexual guilt.
• Factor 3: Sexual behaviours in social situations. This factor captures anxiety related to interpersonal interactions that carry sexual undertones, such as flirting, discussing sexual topics in mixed company, or reacting to sexual advances.

The specific item composition for each factor is detailed below:

• Factor 1 (Private sexual behaviours, cognitions, and emotions): items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 16, 17, and 23.
• Factor 2 (Extramarital or casual sex): items 1, 13, 18, 20, 21, 22, and 27.
• Factor 3 (Sexual behaviours in social situations): items 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 24, and 25.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological inventory (Forced-choice format)

Format: The scale consists of 27 items, each requiring a choice between two alternatives (A or B). These options typically reflect either an anxious/negative reaction or a non-anxious/positive reaction to the described scenario.

Language Available: Primarily English (Original and Revised versions)

Population Group: General adult population; utilized widely in university samples, clinical populations, and cross-cultural studies.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (18+)

Population Details: The SAI-R has been validated across diverse demographic groups, including studies examining gender differences and specific religious or cultural populations (e.g., the 2014 study focused on Canadian and American Muslim women and men).

Test Methodology: Respondents are asked to select the statement (a or b) that most accurately characterizes their typical feelings or attitudes concerning the specific sexual situation or behavior presented.

Keywords

Sexual measurement, psychometric properties, forced-choice, internal consistency, sex guilt, clinical assessment, Janda, O’Grady, sexual apprehension.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not publicly listed for all original authors.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in the source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in the source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The original Sex Anxiety Inventory (SAI) was developed in 1980 by L. H. Janda and E. E. O’Grady. The revised version (SAI-R) has been utilized extensively in subsequent academic research, including the 2014 thesis by Sobia F. Ali-Faisal. The scale is generally available for academic research purposes. However, researchers planning large-scale or commercial applications should secure formal permissions from the original authors or copyright holders. Consultation of the primary publications is advised for specific usage guidelines.

Reference’s

• Ali-Faisal, Sobia F., (2014). “Crossing sexual barriers: The influence of background factors and personal attitudes on sexual guilt and sexual anxiety among Canadian and American Muslim women and men”. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 5051.
• Janda, L. H., & O’Grady, E. E. (1980). Development of a sex anxiety inventory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 169-175.
• Janda, L. H., & Bazemore, S. D. (2011). The revised Mosher Sex-Guilt Scale: Its psychometric properties and a proposed ten-item version. Journal of Sex Research, 48(4), 392-396.

The full instrument, as utilized in the 2014 application, can be accessed online. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6050&context=etd

Items of the Sex Anxiety Inventory (Revised)

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