The Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS) is a theoretically-based, validated measure of power dynamics in sexual relationships.
Developed by:
Julie Pulerwitz, Steven L. Gortmaker, William DeJong (Harvard School of Public Health)
Measure domains:
Relationship Control
Decision-Making Dominance
Decision-Making Dominance
Items and subscales:
23 items
2 subscales
2 subscales
Outcomes predicted:
a. history of physical violence in current relationship
b. history of sexual violence (forced sex) in current relationship
c. education level of respondent
d. satisfaction with current relationship e. current safer sex behaviors (consistent condom use)
b. history of sexual violence (forced sex) in current relationship
c. education level of respondent
d. satisfaction with current relationship e. current safer sex behaviors (consistent condom use)
Cronbach's alpha:
Combined Version:
Entire scale: .084
RC subscale: 0.86
DMD subscale: 0.62
Spanish Version:
Entire scale: 0.88
RC subscale: 0.89
DMD subscale: 0.60
Entire scale: .084
RC subscale: 0.86
DMD subscale: 0.62
Spanish Version:
Entire scale: 0.88
RC subscale: 0.89
DMD subscale: 0.60
Study population(s):
Majority Latina women ages 18-45 with a primary sexual partner, not seeking pregnancy, and presenting at urban community health centers
Additional information:
Adapted successfully for use in a variety of domestic and international settings including: Botswana, Canada, China, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Spain, South Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, Uganda, Zimbabwe. Tested in subsequent research among both men and women and youth, although its use among men has yielded mixed results. Subscales can be used independently or in conjunction.
Measure validated?:
Y
Link(s) to Validation Study and/or Measure:
Uses in Other Studies:
Tross, S. (2008). Reducing HIV/STD Risk Behaviors: A Research Study for Women in Drug Abuse Treatment. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Stephenson, R, Bartel, D, & Rubardt, M (2012). Constructs of power and equity and their association with contraceptive use among men and women in rural Ethiopia and Kenya, Global Public Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 7:6, 618-634
McMahon, J. M. et al (2015). A Systematic Review of the Psychometic Properties of the Sexual Relationship Power Scale in HIV/AIDS Research. Arch Sex Behav, 44(2): 267–294. doi:10.1007/s10508-014-0355-6
Conroy, A. A. et al (2016). Relationship Power and Sexual Violence Among HIV-Positive Women in Rural Uganda. AIDS Behav, 20(9): 2045–2053. doi:10.1007/s10461-016-1385-y
Christofides, N. J., Jewkes, R. K., Dunkle, K. L., McCarty, F., Jama Shai, N., Nduna, M., & Sterk, C. (2014). Risk factors for unplanned and unwanted teenage pregnancies occurring over two years of follow-up among a cohort of young South African women. Glob Health Action, 7, 23719. 10.3402/gha.v7.23719
Hatcher, A. M., Tsai, A. C., Kumbakumba, E., Dworkin, S. L., Hunt, P. W., Martin, J. N., . . . Weiser, S. D. (2012). Sexual relationship power and depression among HIV-infected women in Rural Uganda. PLoS One, 7(12), e49821. 10.1371/journal.pone.0049821
Uses in Other Studies Links:
Citation of original article
Get citationPulerwitz, J., Gortmaker, S. L., & DeJong, W. (2000). Measuring sexual relationship power in HIV/STD research. Sex Roles, 42(7/8), 637-660. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007051506972