Description

The Sexual Coercion Scale (SCS) is an assessment instrument designed to evaluate experiences, perceptions, and behaviors related to sexual pressure and coercion. It examines the extent to which an individual has experienced or used sexual pressure in order to obtain sexual activity or influence another person’s sexual behavior.

The scale addresses sexual coercion as a multidimensional phenomenon by examining both personal experiences and attitudes toward coercive sexual behavior.

Core Dimensions

The SCS covers several aspects of sexual coercion, including strategies and techniques used to exert pressure, experiences of coercion, and perceptions and attitudes toward sexual pressure.

The first area concerns methods used to pressure or coerce another person into sexual activity. The second focuses on personal experiences of being subjected to or exerting such pressure, while the third examines how participants perceive and evaluate sexually coercive behavior.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the SCS is to assess experiences, attitudes, and behaviors associated with sexual pressure and coercion. The instrument is intended to support a better understanding of the prevalence and nature of sexual coercion, its potential effects on mental and physical health, and the development of prevention and intervention strategies.

The data obtained through the scale may also be used to investigate the social and psychological conditions associated with sexual pressure and coercion and to support the development of appropriate intervention and support strategies.

Research Applications

The SCS can be used in research focusing on sexual violence, consent, interpersonal relationships, attitudes toward sexual behavior, and the consequences of coercive experiences.

It may also be used to examine differences across social or demographic groups and to investigate relationships between sexual coercion and variables related to mental health, social context, and interpersonal functioning.

Data Analysis and Psychometric Evaluation

Analysis of SCS data may include descriptive statistics, comparisons between groups, and correlations with other psychological or social variables.

In psychometric applications, researchers may examine internal consistency, reliability, validity, and factor structure, depending on the specific version of the instrument being used.

Scoring and Interpretation

According to the source material, the SCS is generally scored using a Likert-type scale, for example from 1 (“very rarely”) to 5 (“very often”) or from 1 (“strongly disagree”) to 5 (“strongly agree”). Total scores may be calculated by summing or averaging individual item scores.

Higher scores indicate higher levels of sexual pressure or coercion according to the source material.

Because the scale addresses a sensitive area, interpretation should follow the instructions of the specific version being administered. Scores should not be treated in isolation as a clinical or legal determination.

References

Koss, M. P., & Gidycz, C. A. (1985). The Sexual Experiences Survey: Reliability and validity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53(3), 422–423.

Tjaden, P., & Thoennes, N. (2000). Full Report of the Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Muehlenhard, C. L., & Kimes, D. D. (1999). The social construction of sexual coercion: A review of the literature. Journal of Sex Research, 36(2), 171–186.

Smith, P. H., & Raley, S. (2013). Understanding sexual coercion: Development and validation of a comprehensive measure. Violence Against Women, 19(6), 743–766.