Validation of the Spanish Version of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) Using Self-Reported and Psychophysiological Measures

Abstract

Assessment of sexual response and sexual functioning through self-reported measures is of relevance in the area of sexual health. The goal was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in a sample of 1,105 individuals divided into two subsamples to examine and confirm the factorial structure. To evaluate both psychophysiological and subjective sexual arousal, we considered, from the total sample, 49 participants who took part in a second phase of the study. They were exposed to sexual films and they also answered the Spanish version of the ASEX, Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, Sexual Opinion Survey-6, and Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form. Results showed that ASEX has an unidimensional structure, good internal consistency, and construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. The scale examined it is useful measure for the assessment of sexual functioning for both clinical and research purposes.

La evaluación de la respuesta sexual y el funcionamiento sexual a través de medidas autoinformadas es relevante en el área de la salud sexual. El objetivo fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) en una muestra de 1.105 individuos, divididos en dos submuestras para explorar y confirmar la estructura factorial. Para evaluar la activación sexual subjetiva y psicofisiológica, de la muestra total se seleccionaron 49 sujetos, los cuales participaron en una segunda fase del estudio. Estos últimos participantes visualizaron un vídeo con contenido sexual explícito, completaron las versiones españolas del ASEX, Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, Sexual Opinion Survey-6 y Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form. Tras los resultados se comprueba que el ASEX tiene una estructura unidimensional, buena consistencia interna y validez de constructo, convergente y discriminante. La escala examinada es útil para la evaluación del funcionamiento sexual, tanto con fines clínicos como de investigación.