Sexuality Assessment of the Brazilian Population: An Integrative Review of the Available Instruments

J Sex Marital Ther. 2022;48(8):757-774. doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2022.2035869. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Abstract

This paper provides an integrative review of psychometric instruments targeting sexual function and clinical measures of sexuality available to the Brazilian population. Our aim was to summarize the existing measures, indicating current development needs related to the quality of psychometric evidence, research design and untapped theoretical ground that could be relevant for clinical practice and research in sexuality. Electronic databases were searched. Additional records were found through a manual search. The general search terms and operators were (scale OR inventory OR questionnaire) AND (validation) AND (sexual beliefs OR sexuality OR sexual behavior OR sexual function OR sexual satisfaction) AND (Brazil or Brazilian). The results indicate a total of 18 developed or transculturally adapted and/or validated scales and questionnaires available in Brazilian Portuguese, covering sexual dysfunctions and clinical measures. Despite development, adaptation and validation efforts, there is a critical need for better psychometric and sampling strategies as well as norms for the clinical interpretation of test results. Ecological validity is also a challenge. At present, sexual assessments in Brazil offer some useful information, but reaching the applied clinical field remains a challenge.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2022.2035869 .

Keywords: Brazil; Surveys and questionnaires; sexual function; sexuality.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Humans
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Sexuality*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires