Sunday, January 15, 2023

They found significantly higher levels of sexual intelligence in men as compared to women, which had significant positive correlations with age, education, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, sexual health, & satisfaction with life

Measuring Sexual Intelligence for Evaluating Sexual Health. Waqar Husain et al. Psychological Reports, January 14, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231152388

Abstract: The current paper reports four consecutive studies that were conducted to link sexual health with a new construct of sexual intelligence by developing and validating a new scale to measure sexual intelligence. Sexual intelligence was defined as “the ability to perceive, understand and respond to sexual needs and desires in a personal and social context.” Sexual Intelligence Scale (SIS), comprising of 8 items in English and 2 factors (sexual knowledge & sexual behavior), was developed and validated by involving 959 respondents in the process of 4 consecutive studies. The validity of SIS was tested step by step for its face, content, factorial, convergent, discriminant, and predictive validities. The reliability was measured through internal consistency and item-total & item-scale correlations. The study found significantly higher levels of sexual intelligence in men as compared to women. Sexual intelligence, moreover, had significant positive correlations with age, education, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, sexual health, and satisfaction with life. Sexual health was linked with sexual intelligence and the SIS was accepted as a reliable and valid tool to measure sexual intelligence.

Conclusion

The significance of sexuality in the lives of human beings has been well established
through the biological and as well as the psychological perspectives. Sexual intelligence
is a new construct. The literature reveals only two earlier works that mention the
term “sexual intelligence”. These works tried to present sexual intelligence as one of the
human abilities that enables a person to sense, perceive, understand, and respond to the
sexual needs and desires in a personal and social context. The current work is based
upon four consecutive studies that statistically validated the construct of sexual intelligence
and presented the first ever psychological scale in this regard. These four
studies were conducted for a step-by-step development and statistical validation of
‘Sukoon Sexual Intelligence Scale’ by establishing the factorial, convergent, discriminant,
and predictive validity of the scale.
Referring to the new developments in the theoretical and practical aspects of human
intelligence, the current work sensitizes the researchers to explore the construct of
sexual intelligence further as it is a significantly crucial factor within the construct of
general intelligence. Apart from being social, mental, or spiritual beings; humans must
be deeply understood as sexual beings. Their cognitive capabilities should also
highlight their sexual capacities. Sexual intelligence needs to be worked upon further as
it surely contributes to sexual satisfaction, marital satisfaction, marital adjustment, and
overall psychosocial wellbeing of a person. The inappropriate levels of sexual intelligence
in a person, if diagnosed properly, may protect the person from several sexual
improprieties including sexual dysfunctions and unsafe sex. The levels of sexual
intelligence can be enhanced by a special training program on sexual intelligence.
Future researchers are also suggested to design a capacity building theme to improve
one’s sexual intelligence through training.