Development and Validation of a Brief Measure of Sexual Wellbeing for Population Surveys: The Natsal Sexual Wellbeing Measure (Natsal-SW)

dc.contributor.authorMitchell, Kirstin R.
dc.contributor.authorPalmer, Melissa J.
dc.contributor.authorLewis, Ruth
dc.contributor.authorBosó Pérez, Raquel
dc.contributor.authorMaxwell, Karen J.
dc.contributor.authorMacDowall, Wendy
dc.contributor.authorReid, David
dc.contributor.authorBonell, Chris
dc.contributor.authorMercer, Catherine H.
dc.contributor.authorSonnenberg, Pam
dc.contributor.authorFortenberry, J. Dennis
dc.contributor.authorThe Natsal-4 team
dc.contributor.departmentPediatrics, School of Medicine
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-24T20:04:37Z
dc.date.available2025-01-24T20:04:37Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractSexual wellbeing is an important aspect of population health. Addressing and monitoring it as a distinct issue requires valid measures. Our previous conceptual work identified seven domains of sexual wellbeing: security; respect; self-esteem; resilience; forgiveness; self-determination; and comfort. Here, we describe the development and validation of a measure of sexual wellbeing reflecting these domains. Based on the analysis of 40 semi-structured interviews, we operationalized domains into items, and refined them via cognitive interviews, workshops, and expert review. We tested the items via two web-based surveys (n = 590; n = 814). Using data from the first survey, we carried out exploratory factor analysis to assess and eliminate poor performing items. Using data from the second survey, we carried out confirmatory factor analysis to examine model fit and associations between the item reduced measure and external variables hypothesized to correlate with sexual wellbeing (external validity). A sub-sample (n = 113) repeated the second survey after 2 weeks to evaluate test–retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a “general specific model” had best fit (RMSEA: 0.064; CFI: 0.975, TLI: 0.962), and functioned equivalently across age group, gender, sexual orientation, and relationship status. The final Natsal-SW measure comprised 13 items (from an initial set of 25). It was associated with external variables in the directions hypothesized (all p < .001), including mental wellbeing (0.454), self-esteem (0.564), body image (0.232), depression (−0.384), anxiety (−0.340), sexual satisfaction (0.680) and sexual distress (−0.615), and demonstrated good test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.78). The measure enables sexual wellbeing to be quantified and understood within and across populations.
dc.eprint.versionFinal published version
dc.identifier.citationMitchell, K. R., Palmer, M. J., Lewis, R., Bosó Pérez, R., Maxwell, K. J., Macdowall, W., Reid, D., Bonell, C., Mercer, C. H., Sonnenberg, P., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2025). Development and Validation of a Brief Measure of Sexual Wellbeing for Population Surveys: The Natsal Sexual Wellbeing Measure (Natsal-SW). The Journal of Sex Research, 62(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2023.2278530
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1805/45462
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis
dc.relation.isversionof10.1080/00224499.2023.2278530
dc.relation.journalThe Journal of Sex Research
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
dc.sourcePublisher
dc.subjectNatsal Sexual Wellbeing Measure
dc.subjectsexual wellbeing
dc.subjectpopulation surveys
dc.titleDevelopment and Validation of a Brief Measure of Sexual Wellbeing for Population Surveys: The Natsal Sexual Wellbeing Measure (Natsal-SW)
dc.typeArticle
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