Description

The Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) is an assessment tool used to measure sexual compulsivity, that is, the uncontrolled and repetitive engagement in sexual activities despite negative consequences. This scale was developed to assist researchers and clinicians in identifying and assessing sexual compulsivity across different populations.

Purpose

The main purpose of the SCS is to evaluate the severity of sexually compulsive behaviors in individuals. The scale is used to aid in diagnosing sexual compulsivity disorders, to monitor patients’ progress, and to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Analysis

The SCS includes 10 statements that assess various aspects of sexual compulsivity, such as:
Frequency of sexual thoughts: How often the individual experiences sexual thoughts that cannot be controlled.
Failure of control: Difficulty stopping or controlling sexual thoughts and behaviors.
Negative consequences: Engagement in sexual activities despite negative effects on personal, professional, or social life.
Participants are asked to respond to each statement using a Likert scale from 1 (never) to 4 (very often), to indicate the frequency and intensity of their sexually compulsive behaviors.

Scoring

The total score of the SCS is calculated by summing the scores of the individual statements. The total score can range from 10 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater severity of sexual compulsivity. Higher scores show that the individual may have significant problems with uncontrolled sexual behavior and may require clinical intervention.

References

Kalichman, S. C., & Rompa, D. (1995). Sexual sensation seeking and Sexual Compulsivity Scales: Validity, and predicting HIV risk behavior. Journal of Personality Assessment, 65(3), 586–601.
Kalichman, S. C., & Rompa, D. (2001). The sexual compulsivity scale: Further development and use with HIV-positive persons. Journal of Personality Assessment, 76(3), 379–395.
Miner, M. H., Raymond, N., Coleman, E., & Swinburne Romine, R. (2007). Psychiatric comorbidity in compulsive sexual behavior. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 14(1), 55–64.
Grov, C., Parsons, J. T., & Bimbi, D. S. (2010). Sexual compulsivity and sexual risk in gay and bisexual men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(4), 940–949.
Hook, J. N., Hook, J. P., Davis, D. E., Worthington, E. L., & Penberthy, J. K. (2010). Measuring sexual addiction and compulsivity: A critical review of instruments. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 36(3), 227–260.