One way of assessing sexuality standards would simply be to ask people to select their preferred standard from a range of possible points on the sexuality standards continuum. A face valid item from Hunt (1974) and Delamater & MacCorquodale (1979) was one measure used to assess people's sexuality standards for this research.

How close or formal a relationship is necessary for YOU before you enter a sexual relationship?

_____ Casual acquaintance

_____ Liking

_____ Love

_____ Engagement

_____ Marriage

Responses to this item were used to create three sexuality standard groups:

• The "> Love group" was formed from people who require engagement or marriage prior to the onset of sex.
• The "Love" group was formed from people who require love or prior to sexual relations.
• The "< Love group" was composed of people who require liking or casual acquaintance (physical attraction) prior to the onset of sexual activity.

These three groups will be compared with each other on various dimensions to see how people with differing sexuality standards differ in terms of the other measures we collected.

Back to Sexuality Standards

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