Sexual functioning in clinical couples: Discriminant validity of the sexual interaction system scale

This study examined whether a new instrument for measuring couple sexual functioning, the Sexual Interaction System Scale (SISS), would differentiate couples in therapy for sex dysfunction from couples in therapy for other problems. It also explored the relationship of sexual interaction, sexual satisfaction, and marital adjustment. As predicted, the other problems group achieved better scores on all couple and female factors and on all male factors except two. Discriminant analysis of the SISS factors for the two groups further supported the discriminative capacity of the instrument. Correlational analyses suggested a strong relationship between the SISS, sexual satisfaction, and marital adjustment. While the other problems group had greater sexual satisfaction than the sex dysfunction group, the groups were similar in experiencing moderate marital distress. The results support the further use of the SISS in research and clinical practice.