Sexual Assertiveness Across Cultures, Genders, and Sexual Orientations: Validation of the Short Sexual Assertiveness Questionnaire (SAQ-9)

Nagy, Léna; Koós, Mónika; Kraus, Dr Shane W; Demetrovics, Zsolt; Potenza, Marc N; Ballester-Arnal, Rafael; Batthyány, Dominik; Bergeron, Sophie; Billieux, Joël; Briken, Peer; Burkauskas, Julius; Cárdenas-López, Georgina; Carvalho, Joana; Castro-Calvo, Jesús; Chen, Lijun; Chen, Ji-Kang; Ciocca, Giacomo; Corazza, Ornella; Csako, Rita; Fernandez, David P; Fujiwara, Hironobu; Fernandez, Elaine F; Fuss, Johannes; Gabrhelík, Roman; Gewirtz-Meydan, Ateret; Gjoneska, Biljana; Gola, Mateusz; Grubbs, Joshua B; Hashim, Hashim T; Islam, Md Saiful; Ismail, Mustafa; Jiménez-Martínez, Martha C; Jurin, Tanja; Kalina, Ondrej; Klein, Verena; Költő, András; Lee, Sang-Kyu; Lewczuk, Karol; Lin, Chung-Ying; Lochner, Christine; López-Alvarado, Silvia; Lukavská, Kateřina; Mayta-Tristán, Percy; Miller, Dan J; Orosová, Oľga; Orosz, Gábor; Ponce, Fernando P; Quintana, Gonzalo R; Quintero Garzola, Gabriel C; Ramos-Diaz, Jano; Rigaud, Kévin; Rousseau, Ann; De Tubino, Scanavino Marco; Schulmeyer, Marion K; Sharan, Pratap; Shibata, Mami; Shoib, Sheikh; Sigre-Leirós, Vera; Sniewski, Luke; Spasovski, Ognen; Steibliene, Vesta; Stein, Dan J; Strizek, Julian; Štulhofer, Aleksandar; Ünsal, Banu C; Vaillancourt-Morel, Marie-Pier; Claire Van Hout, Marie; Bőthe, Beáta

doi:10.1177/10731911241312757

Sexual assertiveness (SA) is an important concept in understanding sexual well-being and decision-making. However, psychometric evaluation of existing measures of SA in diverse populations is largely lacking, hindering cross-cultural and comparative studies. This study validated the short version of the Sexual Assertiveness Questionnaire (SAQ-9) and examined its measurement invariance across several languages, countries, genders, sexual orientations, and relationship statuses among 65,448 sexually-active adults (Mage = 32.98 years, SD = 12.08, 58% women, 2.74% gender-diverse individuals) taking part in the International Sex Survey. The scale demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. Measurement invariance tests indicated that the SAQ-9 is suitable for comparing individuals from different cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and relationship statuses, and significant group differences were also noted (e.g., gender-diverse individuals reported the highest levels of SA). Findings suggest that the SAQ-9 is a reliable and valid measure of SA and appropriate for use in diverse populations, with specific populations exhibiting varying levels of SA.

Sexual assertiveness (SA) is an important concept in understanding sexual well-being and decision-making. However, psychometric evaluation of existing measures of SA in diverse populations is largely lacking, hindering cross-cultural and comparative studies. This study validated the short version of the Sexual Assertiveness Questionnaire (SAQ-9) and examined its measurement invariance across several languages, countries, genders, sexual orientations, and relationship statuses among 65,448 sexually-active adults (M-age = 32.98 years, SD = 12.08, 58% women, 2.74% gender-diverse individuals) taking part in the International Sex Survey. The scale demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. Measurement invariance tests indicated that the SAQ-9 is suitable for comparing individuals from different cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and relationship statuses, and significant group differences were also noted (e.g., gender-diverse individuals reported the highest levels of SA). Findings suggest that the SAQ-9 is a reliable and valid measure of SA and appropriate for use in diverse populations, with specific populations exhibiting varying levels of SA.

Sexual Assertiveness Across Cultures, Genders, and Sexual Orientations: Validation of the Short Sexual Assertiveness Questionnaire (SAQ-9) / Nagy, Léna; Koós, Mónika; Kraus, Dr Shane W; Demetrovics, Zsolt; Potenza, Marc N; Ballester-Arnal, Rafael; Batthyány, Dominik; Bergeron, Sophie; Billieux, Joël; Briken, Peer; Burkauskas, Julius; Cárdenas-López, Georgina; Carvalho, Joana; Castro-Calvo, Jesús; Chen, Lijun; Chen, Ji-Kang; Ciocca, Giacomo; Corazza, Ornella; Csako, Rita; Fernandez, David P; Fujiwara, Hironobu; Fernandez, Elaine F; Fuss, Johannes; Gabrhelík, Roman; Gewirtz-Meydan, Ateret; Gjoneska, Biljana; Gola, Mateusz; Grubbs, Joshua B; Hashim, Hashim T; Islam, Md Saiful; Ismail, Mustafa; Jiménez-Martínez, Martha C; Jurin, Tanja; Kalina, Ondrej; Klein, Verena; Költő, András; Lee, Sang-Kyu; Lewczuk, Karol; Lin, Chung-Ying; Lochner, Christine; López-Alvarado, Silvia; Lukavská, Kateřina; Mayta-Tristán, Percy; Miller, Dan J; Orosová, Oľga; Orosz, Gábor; Ponce, Fernando P; Quintana, Gonzalo R; Quintero Garzola, Gabriel C; Ramos-Diaz, Jano; Rigaud, Kévin; Rousseau, Ann; De Tubino, Scanavino Marco; Schulmeyer, Marion K; Sharan, Pratap; Shibata, Mami; Shoib, Sheikh; Sigre-Leirós, Vera; Sniewski, Luke; Spasovski, Ognen; Steibliene, Vesta; Stein, Dan J; Strizek, Julian; Štulhofer, Aleksandar; Ünsal, Banu C; Vaillancourt-Morel, Marie-Pier; Claire Van Hout, Marie; Bőthe, Beáta. - In: ASSESSMENT. - ISSN 1073-1911. - ONLINE FIRST:(2025). [10.1177/10731911241312757]