Portuguese Version of Cues for Sexual Desire Scale:
The Influence of Relationship Duration
Ana Carvalheira, PhD,* Lori A. Brotto, PhD,
†
and João Maroco, PhD*
*Research Department of Psychology & Health, University Institute of Applied Psychology, Lisbon, Portugal;
†
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01909.x
ABSTRACT
Introduction. It is well established that sexual desire is a triggered response to effective sexual stimuli. Factors that
trigger women’s sexual desire can change over time and circumstances. The Cues for Sexual Desire Scale (CSDS) is
a valuable assessment tool to measure the range and magnitude of such stimuli.
Aim. To investigate the psychometric properties of CSDS within a Portuguese community sample of women; to
examine the influence of relationship duration on CSDS scores.
Methods. Portuguese women (N = 3,687) over age 18 completed a web-based survey of previously pilot-tested
items.
Main Outcome Measures. Factor structure and internal consistency of CSDS scores; differences between women in
longer-term (more than five years) and shorter-term (less than three years) relationships; predictors of CSDS scores.
Results. A factor analysis revealed a difference in factor structure between the Portuguese and the original (English)
version of CSDS. A five factor solution explained 58.3% of the total variance. The CSDS demonstrated good
reliability (Cronbach’s = 0.913). All subscales had a values greater than 0.85. Women in longer-term relationships
had significantly fewer cues for sexual desire (M = 124) compared to women in shorter-term relationships (M = 128),
t(1,879) = 3.7, P < 0.001. Older women (b=-0.075; P < 0.001), and longer term relationships (b=-0.056; P < 0.05),
were significant predictors of lower CSDS-P scores. Additionally, women who masturbated (b= 0.172; P < 0.001)
and reached orgasm easily (b= 0.059; P < 0.001) had higher scores for CSDS-P.
Conclusions. The CSDS is a useful instrument for identifying triggers that facilitate sexual desire in Portuguese
women. Women in longer-term relationships reported fewer cues compared to women in shorter-term relationships.
This has clinical implications and suggests that encouraging women to consider newer and varied cues that might
evoke or enhance sexual desire may be one means of addressing concerns with low sexual desire. Carvalheira A,
Brotto LA, and Maroco J. Portuguese version of cues for sexual desire scale: The influence of relationship
duration. J Sex Med **;**:**–**.
Key Words. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder; Sexual Interest; Sexual Desire; Women; Cues; Relationship
Duration
Introduction
O
ver the past decade, there have been numer-
ous attempts to document the prevalence of
low desire and hypoactive sexual desire disorder
(HSDD) in women. Sexual desire difficulties are
considerably more frequent in women than in men
[1–8] with rates as high as 60% reported in some
studies. However, there are also wide cross-study
discrepancies in the reported prevalence of HSDD
that likely relate to significant methodological dif-
ferences (for a review, see Brotto [9]). Thus, the
actual prevalence of HSDD in women is likely
between 5 and 20% [9].
Problems with sexual desire have been the most
common complaint among treatment-seeking
women, perhaps related to the complexity of its
etiology, and the range of perpetuating factors
involved. Research and clinical practice have
revealed the wide diversity of contextual variables
1
© 2010 International Society for Sexual Medicine J Sex Med **;**:**–**