Sexual Arousability Inventory Research Articles

Sexual Desire and Body Image. Gender Differences and Correlations before and during COVID-19 Lockdown.

Recent literature has extensively examined sexual behavior during lockdown due to COVID-19. However, there are no recent studies that have considered the relationship between body image quality, sexual arousability, and sexual anxiety. The present study has two main objectives: (1) to examine gender differences in bodily and sexual experience; and (2) the comparison of bodily and sexual experience, before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 301 adult subjects (161 women and 140 men) aged between 16 and 73 years (Mean = 37.4; S.D. = 10.3) participated in the study. Data on biographical information were collected via an online panel. The Body Uneasiness Test (BUT) and the Sexual Arousability Inventory (SAI) were used for the assessment. Univariate ANOVA showed worse scores for women, compared with men, in terms of body image avoidance, depersonalization, overall severity of body image quality, sexual arousability, and sexual anxiety dimensions. When compared against time, only women showed significant correlations between the function of sexual arousal and all parameters concerning body image alteration. Interestingly, these correlations were weak and sporadic before lockdown, but strong and numerous during lockdown. This finding suggests that the impact of COVID-19 restrictions affected the female population more, with a profound repercussion on self-image and sexual and mental well-being.

Polish Adaptation of Sexual Arousability Inventory (SAI-PL) And Validation for Males

Objective: Sexual arousability is defined as an ability to react with sexual arousal in response to external and internal stimuli. Sexual arousability measures are important for research purposes and for diagnostics of sexual dysfunctions. Self-assessment techniques can be used for such measurement. Due to absence of Polish-language psychometric tools dedicated to sexual arousability measures we adapted Sexual Arousability Inventory; (SAI; Hoon et al., 1976). Design and Method: Psychometrical characteristic of Polish version of SAI (SAI-PL) was examined in the study with 132 participants (42 females, 90 males) aged 18 – 45. Participants were recruited through the student groups, support groups, non-profit organization, Internet, and personal contact. Validation with behavioral factors was performed on the group of 39 heterosexual males consuming pornography on the weekly basis. Results: SAI-PL has a very high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .912), and the same structural factor as original SAI. In addition, the results indicate the high accuracy of the tool relative to the group of men that has not been verified in previous studies devoted to the English version, validated only on a group of women. Conclusions: Due to the simple construction and good psychometric properties SAI-PL can be successfully used to diagnose sexual arousability disorders, in the assessment of the therapy, as well as for research purposes.

Readability assessment of questionnaires frequently used in sex and marital therapy.

The present investigation evaluated the readability of a selected group of inventories frequently employed in assessing various aspects of sexual and marital functioning. The nine inventories selected are: the Bem Sex Role Inventory, the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Relationship Belief Inventory, the Sexual Arousability Inventory, the Sexual Behavior Inventories (female, male, and couple versions), and the Sexual Interaction Inventory. The approach of Forbes and Cottle was utilized to assess reading level because it uses vocabulary difficulty and does not require complete sentences. The results indicated that a college-level reading ability was necessary to comprehend many of the items contained in most of the inventories. Thus, caution must be exercised when administering such inventories to individuals with a low level of educational attainment in order to avoid unreliable and invalid test results.

Level of postassault sexual functioning in rape and incest victims.

In a systematic study, 372 sexual assault survivors and 99 women with no history of sexual assault were interviewed with regard to their sexual histories to determine the incidence and types of sexual dysfunctions in these two samples. The women also completed the Sexual Arousability Inventory. Of the sexual assault survivors, 58.6% of the women were experiencing sexual dysfunctions, with 71% of them reporting that their sexual assaults were related to their development of sexual problems. In contrast, only 17.2% of the nonassaulted women reported experiencing any sexual problems. Differences in the types of sexual problems experienced by the two samples are noted, as are treatment implications. The sensitivity of the Sexual Arousability Inventory to assault-related sexual dysfunctions was affected by the educational level of the sexual assault survivors.

Sexual life of women with the Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

The course of sexual socialization of 50 women suffering from the Stein-Leventhal Syndrome (SLS), on which the wedge resection of the ovaries was carried out, as examined using the HTDW (heterosexual development of women) questionnaire, did not differ from that of 50 normal women of the same age. Sexual life of SLS patients was examined using an interview and the SAW (sexual activity of women), SFW (sexual function of women), and SAI (sexual arousability inventory) questionnaires. Comparison with the findings in the control group showed that the average score in all the three questionnaires was within normal limits for both groups; the differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Among 45 SLS patients who had sexual experience before the surgery, 42 stated that no pronounced changes occurred in their sexual lives after resection of the ovaries. The average value of testosterone in the whole group (0.52 ng/ml plasma) was within normal limits. The level of the male sexual hormone tended to be higher in the subgroup of 19 patients with low orgastic capacity than in the subgroup of 31 orgastic SLS patients. The differences in the average scores of neurotic symptoms in the N5 questionnaire between the SLS patients and the control group were not significant. On the basis of the above findings, it is concluded that SLS patients, after wedge resection of the ovaries, are not more sexually arousable, more active, or more orgastic than medically healthy women.

Self‐reported sexual anxiety and arousal: The expanded sexual arousability inventory

Abstract This study was designed to (a) provide initial validity data on the Expanded Sexual Arousability Inventory developed by E. F. Hoon (1978) and (b) to investigate the relationship of self‐reported sexual arousability to anxiety. Subjects were 252 female undergraduates and 90 female volunteers from the community who completed inventories concerning their sexual responsiveness. The arousal and anxiety scales were found to be uncorrelated, whereas a third scale, satisfaction, was so highly correlated with arousal as to be redundant. All scales showed high split‐half reliability, and the construct validity of arousal and anxiety was generally supported. No relationship was found, with either sample, between self‐reported sexual anxiety and arousal. These findings indicate the relationship between these two variables is not simple. However, it should be noted that the current subjects were not severely sexually anxious, and it cannot be concluded from these data that very high anxiety might not inhibit ...

Sex Role Orientation and Female Sexual Functioning

This study investigates the differences among women in four sex-role categories—Feminine, Masculine, Androgynous, and Undifferentiated—with regard to sexual behavior and attitudes. The sample consists of 300 undergraduate and graduate women enrolled in 27 classes during the spring of 1978. Four criterion instruments are used: (1) the Bem Sex Role Inventory, (2) the Sexual Arousability Inventory, (3) the Sexual Behavior Inventory, and (4) the Sexual Data Form. Eight null hypotheses are tested. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p < .05) on three of the eight comparisons. A post hoc analysis revealed the source of significance to be between Undifferentiated women and women in the other three sex-role categories on satisfaction with sexual responsivity and frequency of an orgasm with partner.

Sex Role Orientation and Female Sexual Functioning

This study investigates the differences among women in four sex-role categories—Feminine, Masculine, Androgynous, and Undifferentiated—with regard to sexual behavior and attitudes. The sample consists of 300 undergraduate and graduate women enrolled in 27 classes during the spring of 1978. Four criterion instruments are used: (1) the Bem Sex Role Inventory, (2) the Sexual Arousability Inventory, (3) the Sexual Behavior Inventory, and (4) the Sexual Data Form. Eight null hypotheses are tested. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences ( p &lt; .05) on three of the eight comparisons. A post hoc analysis revealed the source of significance to be between Undifferentiated women and women in the other three sex-role categories on satisfaction with sexual responsivity and frequency of an orgasm with partner.

Arousability and sexual satisfaction in lesbian and heterosexual women

Abstract Past research suggests that lesbians may be more sexually responsive and sexually satisfied than heterosexual women. In order to clarify the similarities and differences between lesbians and heterosexual women, questionnaire responses of sexual arousability preferences and ratings of sexual behavior and satisfaction of 407 lesbians and 370 heterosexual women were compared. Both groups consisted primarily of Caucasian, college‐educated, young women. The mean score on the Sexual Arousability Inventory was significantly higher for the lesbian sample than for the sample of heterosexual women. A discriminant analysis of the SAI questionnaire items was also significant in separating the heterosexual from the lesbian sample. Chi‐square analyses determined that, compared to heterosexual women, the lesbians reported having sex more often, reported more frequent orgasms through masturbation and through other means of stimulation, and reported both more sexual satisfaction and a greater number of partners. ...

Effects of Experience in Cohabitation on Erotic Arousability

A sample of 275 men and 370 women were given the Sexual Arousability Inventory which requests an arousal rating of 28 sexually-related activities. Differences were obtained between those subjects defined as having low experience in cohabitation versus high experience. The role of novelty in sexual experience is discussed in relation to the results of the study.

Relationships among sexual arousability, imagery ability, and introversion‐extraversion

Abstract On the assumption that cognitive processes mediate sexual learning and sexual behavior, it was hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation between self reports of sexual arousability and imagery ability. A positive relationship between imagery ability and introversion was also predicted. The Sexual Arousability Inventory, Betts Questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery (Shortened form), and the Eysenck Personality Inventory were administered to 100 male and 100 female undergraduate students. Males and females reporting greater ability to form clear, vivid images also reported significantly higher sexual arousability. Imagery ability was not related to introversion‐extraversion. Female extraverts reported higher sexual arousability than their introverted counterparts. Frequency of coitus and of coital orgasm were significantly related to reports of sexual arousability for males and females. Implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.

An inventory for the measurement of female sexual arousability: The SAI

This report describes the development of a self-report Sexual Arousability Inventory (SAI) for women. Sexual arousability was defined as the sum of a respondent's ratings of 28 erotic experience along a 7-point Likert arousal dimension. Multiple-regression and factor analyses were used to select valid items from a 131-item pool and build in factorial purity. The SAI has concurrent validity with respect to sexual experience, activity, and satisfaction, and discriminates between clinical and normal populations. In addition, the SAI is easy to administer and score, may be used with single, married, or lesbian women, is available with norms and in alternate forms, and possesses exceptional internal consistency. Although the SAI was designed primarily for clinical use, the construct it measures may have theoretical significance in future research.