Cross-cultural Validation of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in 42 Countries and 26 Languages

Sungkyunkwan University’s research team NA

doi:10.1007/s13178-024-01040-0

Cross-cultural Validation of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in 42 Countries and 26 Languages

Sungkyunkwan University’s research team NA

Department of Psychology
Sungkyunkwan University
Jaume I University
University of Valencia
Eötvös Loránd University
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Gibraltar
Flinders University
Yale University
Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling
Sigmund Freud University Vienna
University of Montreal
University of Lausanne
University of Hamburg
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
University of Aveiro
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Fuzhou University
University of Rome La Sapienza
University of Hertfordshire
University of Trento
Auckland University of Technology
Nottingham Trent University
HELP University
Kyoto University
RIKEN
University of Duisburg-Essen
Charles University
University of Haifa
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Polish Academy of Sciences
University of California at San Diego
University of New Mexico
University of Warith Alanbiyaa
Jahangirnagar University
Centre for Advanced Research Excellence in Public Health
University of Baghdad
Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia
Grupo de Investigación Biomédica y de Patología
University of Zagreb
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University
University of Southampton
University of Galway
Hallym University
Chuncheon Addiction Management Center
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University
National Cheng Kung University
Stellenbosch University
Universidad de Cuenca
Universidad Científica del Sur
James Cook University Queensland
Université d'Artois
Universidad de Talca
Universidad de Tarapacá
Florida State University
SENACYT
Universidad Privada del Norte
KU Leuven
Western University
Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Shardha University
Department of Health Services
Compassionate Inquiry
University of SS Cyril and Methodius, Trnava
University of Cape Town
School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Liverpool John Moores University
Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les problèmes conjugaux et les agressions sexuelles

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Introduction: The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) is a brief questionnaire that evaluates five major aspects of sexual function: sex drive, arousal, erectile function/vaginal lubrication, ability to reach orgasm, and satisfaction with orgasm. An advantage of the ASEX is its simplicity and brevity (five items), making it suitable for the screening of sexual function problems in healthcare contexts and large-scale studies. The main objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the ASEX in a multi-national sample, as well as to explore sexual function according to countries, genders, and sexual orientations. Methods: The psychometric examination of the ASEX was conducted with a sample of 82,243 participants (women = 57.02%; men = 39.59%; gender-diverse = 3.38%; M_age = 32.39 years; SD = 12.52) from 42 different countries speaking 26 languages. Results: The CFA supported a one-factor solution. Multigroup CFAs supported configural, metric, partial scalar, and residual invariance across countries, languages, genders, and sexual orientations. Furthermore, the ASEX showed good internal consistency (ω =.85) and convergent validity (e.g., significant negative associations with masturbation and sexual intercourse frequency). Finally, individuals in Eastern countries, women, and asexual participants reported higher levels of sexual function issues. Conclusions and Policy Implications: The findings supported the use of the ASEX as a tool to screen for sexual function problems across diverse populations in multi-cultural settings. This scale may be used to improve our knowledge on the cross-cultural differences on the expression of sexual function, serving as the basis for the development of culturally tailored interventions for the improvement of this basic aspect of well-being.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1307-1329
Number of pages	23
Journal	Sexuality Research and Social Policy
Volume	22
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-024-01040-0
Publication status	Published - Sept 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

ASEX
Assessment
Cross-cultural
International Sex Survey (ISS)
Sexual Function
Validation

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Cite this

@article{89065e3293b645a6a32f6c7811f51dbf,

title = "Cross-cultural Validation of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in 42 Countries and 26 Languages",

abstract = "Introduction: The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) is a brief questionnaire that evaluates five major aspects of sexual function: sex drive, arousal, erectile function/vaginal lubrication, ability to reach orgasm, and satisfaction with orgasm. An advantage of the ASEX is its simplicity and brevity (five items), making it suitable for the screening of sexual function problems in healthcare contexts and large-scale studies. The main objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the ASEX in a multi-national sample, as well as to explore sexual function according to countries, genders, and sexual orientations. Methods: The psychometric examination of the ASEX was conducted with a sample of 82,243 participants (women = 57.02\%; men = 39.59\%; gender-diverse = 3.38\%; Mage = 32.39 years; SD = 12.52) from 42 different countries speaking 26 languages. Results: The CFA supported a one-factor solution. Multigroup CFAs supported configural, metric, partial scalar, and residual invariance across countries, languages, genders, and sexual orientations. Furthermore, the ASEX showed good internal consistency (ω =.85) and convergent validity (e.g., significant negative associations with masturbation and sexual intercourse frequency). Finally, individuals in Eastern countries, women, and asexual participants reported higher levels of sexual function issues. Conclusions and Policy Implications: The findings supported the use of the ASEX as a tool to screen for sexual function problems across diverse populations in multi-cultural settings. This scale may be used to improve our knowledge on the cross-cultural differences on the expression of sexual function, serving as the basis for the development of culturally tailored interventions for the improvement of this basic aspect of well-being.",

keywords = "ASEX, Assessment, Cross-cultural, International Sex Survey (ISS), Sexual Function, Validation",

author = "\{Sungkyunkwan University{\textquoteright}s research team NA\} and Rafael Ballester-Arnal and Marcel Elipe-Miravet and Jes{\'u}s Castro-Calvo and Patricia Beltr{\'a}n-Mart{\'i}nez and L{\'e}na Nagy and M{\'o}nika Ko{\'o}s and Kraus, \{Shane W.\} and Zsolt Demetrovics and Potenza, \{Marc N.\} and Dominik Batthy{\'a}ny and Sophie Bergeron and Jo{\"e}l Billieux and Peer Briken and Julius Burkauskas and Georgina C{\'a}rdenas-L{\'o}pez and Joana Carvalho and Chen, \{Ji Kang\} and Lijun Chen and Giacomo Ciocca and Ornella Corazza and Csako, \{Rita I.\} and Fernandez, \{David P.\} and Fernandez, \{Elaine F.\} and Hironobu Fujiwara and Johannes Fuss and Roman Gabrhel{\'i}k and Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan and Biljana Gjoneska and Mateusz Gola and Grubbs, \{Joshua B.\} and Hashim, \{Hashim T.\} and Islam, \{Md Saiful\} and Mustafa Ismail and Jim{\'e}nez-Mart{\'i}nez, \{Martha C.\} and Tanja Jurin and Ondrej Kalina and Verena Klein and Andr{\'a}s K{\"o}lt{\H o} and Lee, \{Sang Kyu\} and Karol Lewczuk and Lin, \{Chung Ying\} and Christine Lochner and Silvia L{\'o}pez-Alvarado and Kate{\v r}ina Lukavsk{\'a} and Percy Mayta-Trist{\'a}n and Miller, \{Dan J.\} and O{\v I}ga Orosov{\'a} and G{\'a}bor Orosz and Ponce, \{Fernando P.\} and Quintana, \{Gonzalo R.\} and Garzola, \{Gabriel C.Quintero\} and Jano Ramos-Diaz and K{\'e}vin Rigaud and Ann Rousseau and \{De Tubino Scanavino\}, Marco and Schulmeyer, \{Marion K.\} and Pratap Sharan and Mami Shibata and Sheikh Shoib and Vera Sigre-Leir{\'o}s and Luke Sniewski and Ognen Spasovski and Vesta Steibliene and Stein, \{Dan J.\} and {\"U}nsal, \{Berk C.\} and Vaillancourt-Morel, \{Marie Pier\} and \{Van Hout\}, \{Marie Claire\} and Be{\'a}ta B{\H o}the",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1007/s13178-024-01040-0",

language = "English",

volume = "22",

pages = "1307--1329",

journal = "Sexuality Research and Social Policy",

issn = "1868-9884",

publisher = "Springer New York",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cross-cultural Validation of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in 42 Countries and 26 Languages

AU - Sungkyunkwan University’s research team NA

AU - Ballester-Arnal, Rafael

AU - Elipe-Miravet, Marcel

AU - Castro-Calvo, Jesús

AU - Beltrán-Martínez, Patricia

AU - Nagy, Léna

AU - Koós, Mónika

AU - Kraus, Shane W.

AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt

AU - Potenza, Marc N.

AU - Batthyány, Dominik

AU - Bergeron, Sophie

AU - Billieux, Joël

AU - Briken, Peer

AU - Burkauskas, Julius

AU - Cárdenas-López, Georgina

AU - Carvalho, Joana

AU - Chen, Ji Kang

AU - Chen, Lijun

AU - Ciocca, Giacomo

AU - Corazza, Ornella

AU - Csako, Rita I.

AU - Fernandez, David P.

AU - Fernandez, Elaine F.

AU - Fujiwara, Hironobu

AU - Fuss, Johannes

AU - Gabrhelík, Roman

AU - Gewirtz-Meydan, Ateret

AU - Gjoneska, Biljana

AU - Gola, Mateusz

AU - Grubbs, Joshua B.

AU - Hashim, Hashim T.

AU - Islam, Md Saiful

AU - Ismail, Mustafa

AU - Jiménez-Martínez, Martha C.

AU - Jurin, Tanja

AU - Kalina, Ondrej

AU - Klein, Verena

AU - Költő, András

AU - Lee, Sang Kyu

AU - Lewczuk, Karol

AU - Lin, Chung Ying

AU - Lochner, Christine

AU - López-Alvarado, Silvia

AU - Lukavská, Kateřina

AU - Mayta-Tristán, Percy

AU - Miller, Dan J.

AU - Orosová, Oľga

AU - Orosz, Gábor

AU - Ponce, Fernando P.

AU - Quintana, Gonzalo R.

AU - Garzola, Gabriel C.Quintero

AU - Ramos-Diaz, Jano

AU - Rigaud, Kévin

AU - Rousseau, Ann

AU - De Tubino Scanavino, Marco

AU - Schulmeyer, Marion K.

AU - Sharan, Pratap

AU - Shibata, Mami

AU - Shoib, Sheikh

AU - Sigre-Leirós, Vera

AU - Sniewski, Luke

AU - Spasovski, Ognen

AU - Steibliene, Vesta

AU - Stein, Dan J.

AU - Ünsal, Berk C.

AU - Vaillancourt-Morel, Marie Pier

AU - Van Hout, Marie Claire

AU - Bőthe, Beáta

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - Introduction: The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) is a brief questionnaire that evaluates five major aspects of sexual function: sex drive, arousal, erectile function/vaginal lubrication, ability to reach orgasm, and satisfaction with orgasm. An advantage of the ASEX is its simplicity and brevity (five items), making it suitable for the screening of sexual function problems in healthcare contexts and large-scale studies. The main objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the ASEX in a multi-national sample, as well as to explore sexual function according to countries, genders, and sexual orientations. Methods: The psychometric examination of the ASEX was conducted with a sample of 82,243 participants (women = 57.02%; men = 39.59%; gender-diverse = 3.38%; Mage = 32.39 years; SD = 12.52) from 42 different countries speaking 26 languages. Results: The CFA supported a one-factor solution. Multigroup CFAs supported configural, metric, partial scalar, and residual invariance across countries, languages, genders, and sexual orientations. Furthermore, the ASEX showed good internal consistency (ω =.85) and convergent validity (e.g., significant negative associations with masturbation and sexual intercourse frequency). Finally, individuals in Eastern countries, women, and asexual participants reported higher levels of sexual function issues. Conclusions and Policy Implications: The findings supported the use of the ASEX as a tool to screen for sexual function problems across diverse populations in multi-cultural settings. This scale may be used to improve our knowledge on the cross-cultural differences on the expression of sexual function, serving as the basis for the development of culturally tailored interventions for the improvement of this basic aspect of well-being.

AB - Introduction: The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) is a brief questionnaire that evaluates five major aspects of sexual function: sex drive, arousal, erectile function/vaginal lubrication, ability to reach orgasm, and satisfaction with orgasm. An advantage of the ASEX is its simplicity and brevity (five items), making it suitable for the screening of sexual function problems in healthcare contexts and large-scale studies. The main objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the ASEX in a multi-national sample, as well as to explore sexual function according to countries, genders, and sexual orientations. Methods: The psychometric examination of the ASEX was conducted with a sample of 82,243 participants (women = 57.02%; men = 39.59%; gender-diverse = 3.38%; Mage = 32.39 years; SD = 12.52) from 42 different countries speaking 26 languages. Results: The CFA supported a one-factor solution. Multigroup CFAs supported configural, metric, partial scalar, and residual invariance across countries, languages, genders, and sexual orientations. Furthermore, the ASEX showed good internal consistency (ω =.85) and convergent validity (e.g., significant negative associations with masturbation and sexual intercourse frequency). Finally, individuals in Eastern countries, women, and asexual participants reported higher levels of sexual function issues. Conclusions and Policy Implications: The findings supported the use of the ASEX as a tool to screen for sexual function problems across diverse populations in multi-cultural settings. This scale may be used to improve our knowledge on the cross-cultural differences on the expression of sexual function, serving as the basis for the development of culturally tailored interventions for the improvement of this basic aspect of well-being.

KW - ASEX

KW - Assessment

KW - Cross-cultural

KW - International Sex Survey (ISS)

KW - Sexual Function

KW - Validation

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85207666539

U2 - 10.1007/s13178-024-01040-0

DO - 10.1007/s13178-024-01040-0

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85207666539

SN - 1868-9884

VL - 22

SP - 1307

EP - 1329

JO - Sexuality Research and Social Policy

JF - Sexuality Research and Social Policy

IS - 3

ER -

Cross-cultural Validation of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in 42 Countries and 26 Languages

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Keywords

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