Description

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Excitability (HIOSE) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess the intensity, nature, and responsiveness of an individual’s sexual arousal. The scale evaluates both the physiological and emotional components of sexual excitation, providing a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s sensitivity and responsiveness to sexual stimuli.

Sexual excitability is a fundamental component of human sexual functioning and plays a crucial role in sexual health, intimate relationships, and overall quality of life. It is influenced by a complex interaction of biological, neurophysiological, psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors. Assessing sexual excitability enables clinicians and researchers to better understand normal sexual functioning as well as conditions associated with altered sexual arousal.

The HIOSE is widely used in clinical psychology, sexology, couple therapy, health psychology, and behavioral science research to investigate sexual arousal patterns and factors influencing sexual responsiveness across diverse populations.

Questionnaire Structure

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Excitability consists of a series of self-report statements that assess multiple aspects of sexual excitability.

The questionnaire typically evaluates:

  • intensity of sexual arousal,
  • physiological responses to sexual stimuli,
  • emotional reactions during sexual arousal,
  • sensitivity to erotic cues,
  • psychological influences on sexual responsiveness,
  • relationship factors affecting sexual arousal,
  • overall perception of sexual excitability.

Participants respond using a Likert-type rating scale, indicating the extent to which each statement reflects their typical experiences or reactions.

Data Analysis and Applications

Analysis of the HIOSE involves calculating an overall sexual excitability score that reflects an individual’s responsiveness to sexual stimuli.

The HIOSE is widely used in:

  • clinical assessment of sexual functioning,
  • sex therapy and counseling,
  • couple and relationship therapy,
  • health psychology,
  • sexual medicine research,
  • studies of sexual arousal and sexual functioning,
  • evaluation of interventions addressing sexual arousal difficulties.

Researchers frequently examine associations between HIOSE scores and variables such as:

  • sexual satisfaction,
  • relationship satisfaction,
  • emotional intimacy,
  • psychological well-being,
  • self-esteem,
  • anxiety and depression,
  • quality of life,
  • interpersonal functioning.

Psychometric evaluation of the HIOSE typically includes internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), test–retest reliability, construct validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to establish the reliability and validity of the instrument across different populations.

Objective

The primary objective of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Excitability is to provide a reliable and standardized assessment of sexual excitability as a core component of human sexual functioning.

More specifically, the HIOSE aims to:

  • evaluate the intensity of sexual arousal,
  • assess physiological and emotional responses to sexual stimuli,
  • investigate psychological and interpersonal factors influencing sexual responsiveness,
  • examine associations between sexual excitability, sexual satisfaction, and relationship quality,
  • evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic and counseling interventions,
  • support research in sexology, behavioral science, and clinical psychology.

Scoring

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Excitability is generally scored using a Likert-type response scale, with respondents indicating their level of agreement with each statement.

Individual item scores are summed to produce an overall sexual excitability score. Depending on the version of the instrument, certain items may require reverse scoring before calculating the final score.

Higher scores indicate:

  • greater sexual excitability,
  • stronger responsiveness to erotic stimuli,
  • higher physiological and emotional sexual arousal,
  • greater sexual responsiveness,
  • healthier sexual functioning.

Lower scores may indicate reduced sexual excitability or difficulties in sexual arousal and should always be interpreted within the individual’s broader clinical, relational, and psychosocial context.

Psychometric Properties

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Excitability demonstrates satisfactory to excellent psychometric properties across both clinical and non-clinical populations. Validation studies have reported good internal consistency, satisfactory test–retest reliability, robust construct validity, and meaningful associations with established measures of sexual functioning, sexual satisfaction, relationship quality, emotional intimacy, and psychological well-being. These characteristics make the HIOSE a valuable instrument for both clinical assessment and scientific research investigating sexual arousal and its psychological and interpersonal determinants.

References

Hurlbert, D. F. (1991). Development and Validation of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Excitability.

Janssen, E., & Bancroft, J. (2007). The Dual Control Model: The Role of Sexual Inhibition and Excitation in Sexual Arousal and Behavior. In E. Janssen (Ed.), The Psychophysiology of Sex.

Bancroft, J. (2009). Human Sexuality and Its Problems (3rd ed.). Elsevier.

Basson, R. (2001). Using a Different Model for Female Sexual Response to Address Women’s Problematic Sexual Arousal. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 27(5), 395–403.