Motivations for Sexual Intimacy: Development of a Needs-Based Sexual Intimacy Scale

ABSTRACT

To assess motivations associated with sexual intimacy, a need for sexual intimacy scale (NSIS) was developed within a needs-based framework, focusing on needs for sex, affiliation, and dominance. Participants were 347 individuals associated with two large Southern California universities. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were utilized, as were multiple attitudinal and behavioral measures for validation purposes. EFA found 22 items to be associated with the three need sets, with good internal consistency reliability. CFA confirmed these findings, and promising construct and criterion validities were also noted for the factors. Those reporting a greater need for sex noted more lifetime sex partners and one-night stands, but were less likely to use condoms. Individuals with affiliation needs were more likely to be truthful with their partners and more likely to practice safe-sex. Those reporting dominance needs want to control their partners sexually, but were less likely to use condoms. Men were found to exhibit greater needs for sex, while women reported higher levels of affiliation need. Sexual health and primary prevention concerns are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexuality
• needs
• motivation
• personality
• factor analysis

Notes

¹CFA Model 2 (modified model) with one cross-loading and nine within factor error covariations: Need for Sex (Item 1 with 3; 2 with 5,6); Need for Affiliation (Item 1 with 3, 5, 6; 7 with 9); Need for Dominance (Item 1 with 2, 3).

²CFA results forced a 3-factor solution with items allowed to load only on the factor suggested by EFA (unless otherwise noted).

³Item also crossloads .38 on Need for Sex.

∗ p < / = .05;

∗∗ p < .01;

∗∗∗ p < .001

^aSpearman Rho (Sex = 0.23∗∗∗, Affiliation = −0.01, Dominance = 0.01)

^bReverse coded: Coding rubric under item is reversed for ease of interpretation

^cSexually active only

^dItems from Chou, Chin, and Rodriguez (1998)

^eItems included in only two of the three questionnaire administrations

+Directions for this item: Below are a number of items addressing things you may or may not have done sometime in your life. Please answer each item YES or NO. “Sex” below can refer to intercourse or other forms of sexual intimacy (e.g., oral sex, manual stimulation).

++Directions for these items: For the next set of items, simply rate how much you agree or disagree with each statement.