Antisocial sexual behaviour online scale: validation and psychological and sociodemographic correlates

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research aimed to validate the Antisocial Sexual Behaviour Online Scale, observing its relationships with sending explicit photos, gender, age, and personality. Study 1 (N = 215, 72.1% women, Mage = 26.58, SD = 7.84) evidenced a one-factor organisation (eigenvalue = 1.54, explained variance = 38.57%, ω = 0.71). Study 2 (N = 214, 71.5% women, Mage = 23.57, SD = 7.04) corroborated this structure (GFI = 0.97, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.05 (90% CI 0.01-0.15), SRMR = 0.10) and gender invariance. Study 3 (N = 397, 71% women, Mage = 29.3, SD = 8.54) showed correlations between ASBO, sending explicit photos (r = 0.25, p < 0.01), being a man (r = 0.13, p < 0.01), age (r = −0.17, p < 0.01), conscientiousness (r = −0.15, p < 0.01), agreeableness (r = −0.11; p < 0.05), and emotional stability (r = −0.14, p < 0.01). Practice Impact Statement The internet’s use to perpetuate antisocial sexual behaviours has become an increasingly present problem, requiring the development of tools to measure it. The present research proposed a brief and psychometrically adequate instrument for this purpose. Through the measure, it is possible to observe the prevalence of antisocial sexual behaviour online, as well as relate it to other psychosocial constructs.