Construction and validation of the Sociosexual Skills Inventory

Abstract

The period of youth represents a milestone for sexual transitions, including casual practices. However, having erotic experiences does not presume competence in seeking casual sex (CS), and having a repertoire that is not socially competent for casual sex (CS) can lead to sexual risks. Accordingly, this study constructed and generated evidence of validity for a measure of social skills (SS) related to CS. Initially, 48 items were constructed and applied to a valid sample of 571 heterosexual, cisgender and single young people. Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed, the initial items were reduced to 18 and divided into two factors: Direct Sociosexual Skills, with 11 items (a = .81 and ω = .81), and Indirect Sociosexual Skills, with seven items (a = .67 and ω = .67). This instrument could contribute to the promotion of sexual health, as a more elaborate SS repertoire would be related to lower rates of abuse, sexually transmitted infections and harassment.