Examining the Psychometric Properties of the HBI-19 Scale in a Sample of Women with Persistent Genital Arousal Symptoms

J Sex Res. 2024 May;61(4):603-613. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2176423. Epub 2023 Feb 24.

Abstract

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) is a highly distressing, yet poorly understood health concern characterized by persistent, unwanted, and unpleasant genital arousal sensations in the absence of psychological arousal and desire. PGAD/GPD symptoms can be reduced by engaging in frequent sexual behaviors, meaning that hypersexual behavior may be present as a feature of PGAD/GPD in some cases. Given this association and the current lack of measures designed for assessment of PGAD/GPD specifically, the present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI-19) in a sample of women with PGAD/GPD symptoms. Specifically, the factor structure of the HBI-19 was explored via Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) as well as evaluation of model fit indices and reliability indices (Cronbach's alpha). EFA revealed a two-factor structure for the HBI-19 in the sample of women with PGAD/GPD symptoms, differing from the originally validated three-factor structure. RMSEA as well as TLI values suggested poor fit for all three models examined, including the two-factor model, while SRMR suggested good fit for the two-factor and three-factor model and suggested poor fit for the one-factor models. These findings suggest measurement non-invariance at the configural level and indicate that hypersexual behavior is best understood as a possible feature of PGAD/GPD as opposed to a core element of PGAD/GPD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychometrics* / instrumentation
  • Psychometrics* / standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sexual Arousal
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / psychology
  • Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / psychology

Grants and funding