The Risks and Benefits of Technologised Sexual Practice Scale: a Quantitative Measure of Technology Facilitated Sex and Intimacy

Lily Moor et. al., 'The risks and benefits of technologised sexual practice scale: a quantitative measure of technology facilitated sex and intimacy' (2023) 21 Sexual Health 1

11 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2024

See all articles by Lily Moor

Lily Moor

La Trobe University

Joel R. Anderson

La Trobe University

Jennifer Power

La Trobe University

Alexandra James

La Trobe University

Andrea Waling

La Trobe University

Nicole Shackleton

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technolog (RMIT University)

Date Written: November 16, 2023

Abstract

Background: Technologies such as the Internet, smartphones, and sex toys have demonstrated the capacity to facilitate and enhance sexual and intimate practice by offering new ways to meet sexual partners, maintain and establish intimate connections, and providing access to sexual education and exposure to new ways of engaging in sex. They have also afforded novel risks to safety, privacy, and sexual autonomy. Understanding how people perceive and experience both the risks and benefits of using technology to facilitate sex and intimacy is important to understanding contemporary sexual practice, health, and pleasure. However, research in this space is currently hampered by a lack of quantitative measures to accurately and holistically assess both the risks and benefits in the context of technologised sexual practices.

Methods: To facilitate a nuanced quantitative exploration of these concepts, we present the psychometric properties of the newly developed Risks and Benefits of Technologised Sexual Practice Scale.

Results: Using an exploratory (Study 1, n = 445) and confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2, n = 500), this paper presents evidence for a 6-factor scale (Benefits (3): ‘sexual gratification’, ‘connection’, and ‘access to information and culture’; Risks (3): ‘concerns’, ‘worries’, and ‘knowledge of rights and ownership’).

Conclusion: This scale may be used to contribute to research areas including sexual health, sexual behaviour, sexual education, online connection, online safety, and digital literacy with the aim to contribute to a sex- and technology-positive framework for understanding sexual health and pleasure.

Keywords: benefit, intimacy, online dating, risk, sexual practices, technology

Suggested Citation

Moor, Lily and Anderson, Joel and Power, Jennifer and James, Alexandra and Waling, Andrea and Shackleton, Nicole, The Risks and Benefits of Technologised Sexual Practice Scale: a Quantitative Measure of Technology Facilitated Sex and Intimacy (November 16, 2023). Lily Moor et. al., 'The risks and benefits of technologised sexual practice scale: a quantitative measure of technology facilitated sex and intimacy' (2023) 21 Sexual Health 1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4694825

Lily Moor

La Trobe University

Joel Anderson (Contact Author)

La Trobe University ( email )

Jennifer Power

La Trobe University ( email )

Alexandra James

La Trobe University

Andrea Waling

La Trobe University

Nicole Shackleton

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technolog (RMIT University) ( email )

Melbourne
Australia

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