title: Measurement of nontraditional sexuality in women.
abstract: The Women's Nontraditional Sexuality Questionnaire (WNSQ) was developed, and its factor structure, reliability, and convergent and concurrent validity assessed, in two samples of midwestern U.S. college women. Study 1 (N=243) used exploratory factor analysis to assess the instrument dimensionality. In Study 2 (N=627), the fit of the four-factor solution derived from Study 1 was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Results supported a four-factor solution comprising: Involvement in Casual Sex, Self-Pleasuring, Degree of Sexual Interest, and Using Sex as a Means to an End. WNSQ total score and subscales had acceptable internal consistency reliability. Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations of the WNSQ and its subscales with a measure of casual sex (the Sociosexual Orientation Index), and with a measure of adherence to traditional feminine sexual norms (the Purity subscale of the Femininity Ideology Scale). The WNSQ showed weak relationships with a measure of risky sexual health communication practices (Health Protective Sexual Communication Scale). The WNSQ offers promise for study of women's sexual attitudes and behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Akron, College of Arts & Sciences Building, Room 350, Akron, OH 44325-4301, USA. Levant@uakron.edu
authors.forename: Ronald F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Levant
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.forename: Rosalie J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: K Bryant
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Smalley
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D057227:Femininity; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*