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

Nagy L.; Koós M.; Kraus D.S.W.; Demetrovics Z.; Potenza M.N.; Ballester-Arnal R.; Batthyány D.; Bergeron S.; Billieux J.; Briken P.; Burkauskas J.; Cárdenas-López G.; Carvalho J.; Castro-Calvo J.; Chen L.; Chen J.-K.; Ciocca G.; Corazza O.; Csako R.; Fernandez D.P.; Fujiwara H.; Fernandez E.F.; Fuss J.; Gabrhelík R.; Gewirtz-Meydan A.; Gjoneska B.; Gola M.; Grubbs J.B.; Hashim H.T.; Islam M.S.; Ismail M.; Jiménez-Martínez M.C.; Jurin T.; Kalina O.; Klein V.; Költő A.; Lee S.-K.; Lewczuk K.; Lin C.-Y.; Lochner C.; López-Alvarado S.; Lukavská K.; Mayta-Tristán P.; Miller D.J.; Orosová O.; Orosz G.; Ponce F.P.; Quintana G.R.; Quintero Garzola G.C.; Ramos-Diaz J.; Rigaud K.; Rousseau A.; De Tubino S.M.; Schulmeyer M.K.; Sharan P.; Shibata M.; Shoib S.; Sigre-Leirós V.; Sniewski L.; Spasovski O.; Steibliene V.; Stein D.J.; Strizek J.; Štulhofer A.; Ünsal B.C.; Vaillancourt-Morel M.-P.; Claire Van Hout M.; Bőthe B. · Assessment (2026) · DOI: 10.1177/10731911241312757

Resumen

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. © The Author(s) 2025

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur; Universidad Privada del Norte