Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI)
Measure your sexual desire — dyadic (interpersonal) and solitary dimensions
How strong is your sexual desire? The SDI measures the cognitive component of desire across dyadic (interpersonal) and solitary dimensions. 14 items, about 3-5 minutes.
What Does the SDI Measure?
The SDI measures the cognitive component of sexual desire — not how often you have sex, but how often and how intensely you feel interested in it. Spector, Carey & Steinberg (1996) designed it around two relatively independent dimensions:
- Dyadic desire: wanting sexual activity with a partner
- Solitary desire: wanting sexual activity by yourself
Scale Structure
| Subscale | Items | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dyadic | 8 (1-8) | Partner-related desire and sexual thoughts |
| Solitary | 3 (10-12) | Solo desire and self-stimulation |
| Auxiliary | 3 (9,13,14) | Peer comparison, tolerance, dream frequency (unscored) |
Scoring
Higher scores = stronger desire.
Psychometrics
- Internal consistency: Dyadic α=.86, Solitary α=.96
- Test-retest (1 month): r=.76
- Two-factor structure confirmed, factors correlate at r=.35
Reference
Spector, I. P., Carey, M. P., & Steinberg, L. (1996). The sexual desire inventory: Development, factor structure, and evidence of reliability. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 22(3), 175-190.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 14 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.