Description

The Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS-23) is a widely recognized psychometric instrument developed to assess the distribution of power, control, and decision-making within intimate and sexual relationships. Originally developed by Pulerwitz, Gortmaker, and DeJong (2000), the SRPS has become one of the most extensively used measures for investigating how relationship power influences sexual behavior, reproductive health, relationship quality, and health-related decision-making.

The scale is founded on the premise that power inequalities within intimate relationships can significantly affect individuals’ autonomy, communication, sexual negotiation, contraceptive practices, and vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. Rather than focusing solely on relationship satisfaction, the SRPS evaluates the interpersonal mechanisms through which power is exercised, negotiated, or shared between partners.

The instrument measures two fundamental dimensions: Relationship Control, which evaluates the degree of autonomy, influence, and control exercised within the relationship, and Decision-Making Dominance, which examines how partners share responsibility for important decisions regarding sexual activity, contraception, finances, daily life, and other relationship matters. Together, these dimensions provide a comprehensive assessment of relationship equality and interpersonal power dynamics.

The SRPS-23 is widely used in public health, clinical psychology, behavioral medicine, epidemiology, sexual health research, HIV/STI prevention, reproductive health, women’s health, gender studies, and relationship research. It has been extensively applied in studies investigating intimate partner relationships, gender inequality, sexual negotiation, contraceptive use, HIV prevention, domestic violence, relationship satisfaction, and women’s empowerment across diverse cultural settings.

Data Analysis and Use

The analysis of data obtained from the Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS-23) involves comprehensive psychometric and statistical procedures designed to evaluate interpersonal power dynamics and relationship equality. Individual responses are transformed into quantitative scores representing different aspects of relationship power, allowing researchers and clinicians to investigate how power distribution influences sexual behavior, communication, and health outcomes.

Psychometric evaluation includes the assessment of internal consistency, typically measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, to determine the reliability of the questionnaire and its principal dimensions. Test–retest reliability is commonly examined to evaluate the temporal stability of responses, while exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are conducted to verify the theoretical structure and construct validity of the instrument.

Additional psychometric analyses frequently include item-total correlations, composite reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, criterion validity, and measurement invariance, ensuring that the questionnaire accurately measures relationship power across different populations, cultural settings, genders, and relationship types.

Statistical analyses commonly involve descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, regression models, logistic regression, mediation and moderation analyses, structural equation modeling (SEM), multilevel analyses, and longitudinal investigations to examine the relationships between relationship power and variables such as sexual satisfaction, contraceptive use, condom negotiation, intimate partner violence, reproductive autonomy, HIV/STI prevention, psychological well-being, communication quality, and overall relationship functioning.

The SRPS-23 is extensively used in intervention research, sexual health promotion, gender equality programs, reproductive health services, and public health surveillance. It assists researchers and healthcare professionals in identifying relationship power imbalances, evaluating intervention effectiveness, monitoring behavioral change over time, and developing evidence-based strategies that promote healthier, safer, and more equitable intimate relationships.

Objective

The primary objective of the Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS-23) is to provide a reliable, valid, and multidimensional assessment of the balance of power within intimate relationships. The questionnaire enables researchers and healthcare professionals to evaluate the extent to which partners share control, influence, and decision-making responsibilities, thereby identifying patterns of equality or inequality that may affect relationship quality, sexual health, and individual well-being.

The instrument facilitates the identification of relationship power imbalances that may contribute to reduced autonomy, limited communication, difficulties negotiating safer sexual practices, increased vulnerability to intimate partner violence, or adverse reproductive health outcomes. By providing standardized measures of interpersonal power, the SRPS-23 supports evidence-based interventions aimed at strengthening relationship equality, promoting shared decision-making, improving communication, and reducing health risks associated with unequal power dynamics.

The questionnaire is particularly valuable in sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, gender-based violence prevention, public health, psychology, counseling, and social research, where understanding relationship power contributes to more effective clinical practice, public health policy, and health promotion initiatives.

Scoring

The Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS-23) is typically administered using a Likert-type response format, with participants indicating the degree to which they agree with statements describing decision-making processes, relationship control, and interpersonal influence within their intimate relationship. Responses generally range from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 4 or 5 (Strongly Agree), depending on the validated version of the questionnaire.

Individual responses are summed or averaged to generate scores for the two principal domains:

  • Relationship Control
  • Decision-Making Dominance

These subscale scores may also be combined to produce an overall Sexual Relationship Power Score, reflecting the perceived distribution of power within the relationship.

Higher scores generally indicate greater relationship equality, increased personal autonomy, stronger participation in shared decision-making, healthier communication, and a more balanced distribution of interpersonal power. Lower scores suggest greater power imbalance, reduced personal influence, and limited participation in relationship decisions, factors that may increase vulnerability to adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Interpretation of the questionnaire should be supported by comprehensive psychometric evaluation, including Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, composite reliability, item-total correlations, construct validity, factor structure, and normative comparisons, ensuring accurate assessment across diverse populations and cultural contexts.

References

Blanc, A. K. (2001). The Effect of Power in Sexual Relationships on Sexual and Reproductive Health: An Examination of the Evidence. Studies in Family Planning, 32(3), 189–213.

Pulerwitz, J., Gortmaker, S. L., & DeJong, W. (2000). Measuring Sexual Relationship Power in HIV/STD Research. Sex Roles, 42(7–8), 637–660.

Wingood, G. M., & DiClemente, R. J. (2000). Application of the Theory of Gender and Power to Examine HIV-Related Exposures, Risk Factors, and Effective Interventions for Women. Health Education & Behavior, 27(5), 539–565.

Connell, R. W. (1987). Gender and Power: Society, the Person and Sexual Politics. Stanford University Press.