The Adolescent Sexual Activity Index (ASAI): a standardized strategy for measuring interpersonal heterosexual behaviors among youth.

This study reports on the properties of a standardized measure that is used to index the spectrum of sexual behaviors typical of adolescents. Prior work has shown sexual behaviors to be ordered and progressive. Using pre-coitus sexual behaviors that did not refer to sex organs and self-reports of sexual intercourse, a 13-item index was developed. The index was standardized with values ranging from 0.0 to 10.0. Measures were administered to 1493 female and 1073 male black and white adolescents aged 12-19 years in community settings. Analyses reveal the index to have high internal consistency and to perform as a psychometrically sound dependent variable. Because the index uses conservative language, its use may avoid the controversy common to much of the research on adolescent sexuality. The Adolescent Sexual Activity Index will provide researchers and practitioners with an interpretable tool for examining developmental patterns that precede sexual intercourse.