(Keep in mind as you consider the questions that “sexual behavior” and “sexual activity” include pornography and masturbation.)
- Were you sexually abused as a child or adolescent?
- Have you subscribed or regularly purchased sexually explicit magazines like Playboy or Penthouse [or sexually explicit material on the Internet]?
- Do your parents have trouble with sexual behavior?
- Do you often find yourself preoccupied with sexual thoughts?
- Do you feel that your sexual behavior is not normal?
- Does your spouse [or significant other(s)] ever worry or complain about your sexual behavior?
- Do you have trouble stopping your sexual behavior when you know it is inappropriate?
- Do you ever feel bad about your sexual behavior?
- Has your sexual behavior ever created problems for you and your family?
- Have you ever sought help for sexual behavior you did not like?
- Have you ever worried about people finding out about your sexual activities [including pornography viewing]?
- Has anyone been hurt emotionally because of your sexual behavior?
- Are any of your sexual activities against the law?
- Have you made promises to yourself to quit some aspect of your sexual behavior?
- Have you made efforts to quit a type of sexual activity and failed?
- Do you have to hide some of your sexual behavior form others?
- Have you attempted to stop some parts of your sexual activity?
- Have you ever felt degraded by your sexual behavior?
- Has sex [cybersex or pornography] been a way for you to escape your problems?
- When you have sex [cybersex or view pornography] do you feel depressed afterwards?
- Have you felt the need to discontinue a certain form a sexual activity?
- Has your sexual activity interfered with your family life?
- Have you been sexual with minors?
- Do you feel controlled by your sexual desire?
- Do you ever think your sexual desire is stronger than you are?
When respondents to the SAST answered yes to 13 or more of the questions, Dr. Carnes and his colleagues found a 96.5% incidence of addiction.