Measure of Sexual Identity Exploration and Commitment (MOSEIC)

Background

The Measure of Sexual Identity Exploration and Commitment (MOSIEC) is a 22-item questionnaire used to measure sexual identity development in young adults of any (emerging) sexual orientation. The survey was developed by Roger L. Worthington and colleagues in 2008
and captures a broad picture of sexuality, including personal values, needs, activities, and preferred modes of sexual expression.

It assesses the developement of sexual identity on four independent subscales:

1. Exploration (8 items): Measures a person's active efforts, past, present, or future, to learn about their sexual needs and experiment with or explore their sexuality.

2. Commitment (6 items): Assesses how firmly a person has established, adopted, and defined their own sexual identity and values.

3. Synthesis / Integration (5 items): Measures how harmoniously a person's sexual orientation, values, and behavioral expressions blend into their overall, unified sense of self.

4. Sexual Orientation Uncertainty (3 items): Gauges the lack of clarity or explicit confusion a person experiences regarding their specific sexual orientation.

The MOSIEC shows decent internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha >= 0.7) and good test-retest reliability (retesting period of 4 weeks).

Task Procedure

Participants rate their agreement with 22 statements, such as "My sexual orientation is clear to me." on 6 response anchors ranging from 'Very Uncharacteristic of Me'(1 points) to 'Very Characteristic of Me' (6 points). The inventory contains 3 reversed-scored items on subscale 'commitment' and one reversed scored item on subscale 'Sexual Orientation'.

What it Measures

Measure of Sexual Identity Exploration and Commitment (MOSIEC) assesses the development of one's sexual identity

Psychological domains

• Sense of Self: the internal, structured awareness of one's own unique identity, agency, and continuity over time
• Identity Development: Lifelong process through which individuals construct a distinct, cohesive, and continuous sense of self
• Cognitive Dissonance: The degree of mental conflict experienced when comparing one's sexual feelings against broader personal identity.

Main Performance Metrics

• Exploration Score: Average of individual scores (Range: 1-6); high scores indicate 'high exploration behavior in regard to sexual identity'
• Commitment Score: Average of individual scores (Range: 1-6); high scores indicate 'high commitment to one's sexual identity'
• Synthesis/Integration Score: Average of individual scores (Range: 1-6); high scores indicate 'firm integration of sexual identity into the self'
• Sexual Orientation Uncertainty Score: Average of individual scores (Range: 1-6); high scores indicate high degree of uncertainty about sexual orientation

Psychiatric Conditions

The MOSIEC is used by clinical psychologists, sex therapists, and academic researchers to evaluate individuals navigating identity development, relational clarity, or minority stress.

References

Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Measure of Sexual Identity Exploration and Commitment (MOSEIC).

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Worthington, R. L., Navarro, R. L., Savoy, H. B., & Hampton, D. (2008). Development, Reliability, and Validity of the Measure of Sexual Identity Exploration and Commitment (MoSIEC). Developmental Psychology, 44(1), 22–33. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.44.1.22

Morgan, E. M., Steiner, M. G., & Morgan Thompson, E. (2010). Processes of Sexual Orientation Questioning among Heterosexual Men. Men and Masculinities, 12(4), 425–443. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X08322630

Bregman, H. R., Malik, N. M., Page, M. J. L., Makynen, E., & Lindahl, K. M. (2013). Identity Profiles in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: The Role of Family Influences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(3), 417–430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9798-z

Moreira, A. D., Halkitis, P. N., & Kapadia, F. (2015). Sexual Identity Development of a New Generation of Emerging Adult Men: The P18 Cohort Study. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2(2), 159–167. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000099

Rye, B. J., & Hertz, S. (2022). University Students’ Sexual Identity Development as a Determinant of Sexual Self-Hood. Sexes, 3(3), 477–491. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes3030035