New Sexual Satisfaction Scale and Short Form [NSSS-20 / NSSS-S-12]

Description

The New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS) was developed as a universal measure of sexual satisfaction. Unlike many comparable instruments, it is not specific to gender, sexual orientation, or relationship status. The full version contains 20 items, while a 12-item short form (NSSS-S) was also developed and demonstrated psychometric properties comparable to the full scale.

Its conceptual framework is based on sex counseling and psychotherapy literature and initially included five dimensions: sexual sensations, sexual presence/awareness, sexual exchange, emotional connection/closeness, and sexual activity.

Purpose

The main purpose of the NSSS is to provide a systematic assessment of sexual satisfaction that can be used across different populations and in both clinical and nonclinical settings.

The scale was developed and validated using seven independent samples comprising more than 2,000 participants aged 18–55 years from Croatia and the United States.

Structure

Factor analysis resulted in two main subscales:

• Ego-Centered Subscale: assesses sexual satisfaction derived primarily from personal sexual experiences and sensations.
• Partner/Sexual Activity-Centered Subscale: assesses sexual satisfaction based on perceptions of the partner’s sexual behaviors and reactions, as well as the diversity and frequency of sexual activities.

The short version, NSSS-S, contains 12 items. Principal component analysis showed that all short-form items loaded strongly on a single factor.

Response Format and Administration Time

Respondents are asked to rate their satisfaction with specific aspects of their sex life during the previous six months.

Responses are provided on a 5-point Likert-type scale:

1 = Not at all Satisfied
2 = A Little Satisfied
3 = Moderately Satisfied
4 = Very Satisfied
5 = Extremely Satisfied

Most respondents complete the full scale within approximately 5 minutes.

Scoring

Scores are calculated by summing the relevant items:

• Ego-Centered Subscale: Items 1–10
• Partner/Activity-Centered Subscale: Items 11–20
• Total NSSS: Items 1–20
• NSSS-S: the specified 12 items from the full version.

In the provided material, NSSS scores range from 20 to 100, while NSSS-S scores range from 12 to 50.

Higher scores indicate higher levels of reported sexual satisfaction.

Reliability

The scale demonstrates high internal consistency:

• Total NSSS: α = .94–.96
• Ego-Centered Subscale: α = .91–.93
• Partner/Activity-Centered Subscale: α = .90–.94
• NSSS-S: α = .90–.93

Test-retest reliability over a one-month period was also satisfactory, with stability coefficients ranging from .72 to .84.

Validity

Both the NSSS and NSSS-S showed expected associations with overall life satisfaction, sexual boredom, relationship intimacy, communication with a partner about sex, and relationship status.

Correlations with a global single-item measure of sexual satisfaction ranged from r = .44 to .67, supporting convergent validity.

Participants from a clinical sex-therapy sample also reported significantly lower sexual satisfaction than participants from a nonclinical community sample, with large effect sizes.

Applications

The NSSS may be used in sexological, psychological, clinical, and social research, including studies examining:

• sexual satisfaction,
• relationship quality,
• sexual communication,
• sexual functioning,
• differences between clinical and nonclinical populations.

The NSSS-S is particularly useful when a shorter administration time is required while retaining strong psychometric performance.

References

Štulhofer, A., Buško, V., & Brouillard, P. Development and bi-cultural validation of the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale. The Journal of Sex Research.

Štulhofer, A., Buško, V., & Landripet, I. (2010). Pornography, sexual socialization, and satisfaction among young men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 168–178.

Štulhofer, A., Landripet, I., Momčilović, A., Matko, V., Kladarić, P. G., & Buško, V. (2007). Pornography and sexual satisfaction in young women and men. In Generation P? Youth, Gender and Pornography (pp. 66–84). Danish University Press.

Watt, J. D., & Ewing, J. E. (1996). Toward the development and validation of a measure of sexual boredom. The Journal of Sex Research, 33, 57–66.