Motives and Manifestations of Sex as Self-Injury

ABSTRACT

To view destructive sexual behaviors as a form of self-injury is a new concept in the research field that needs further exploration and conceptualization. The aim of this study was to explore experiences of sex as self-injury to identify motives and manifestations of the behavior. An anonymous self-selected open-ended questionnaire was used for the study, and qualitative content analysis was used to identify patterns and themes in the text. A total of 199 informants participated in the study (M = 27.9, SD = 9.3 years), all of whom were recruited via a range of websites of Swedish nongovernmental organizations. Sex as self-injury was described as voluntary exposure to sexual situations including psychological and/or physical harm. Affect regulation and receiving positive or negative confirmation emerged as important motives for the behavior. Respondents described sex as self-injury as difficult to stop when it felt compulsive and addictive, with ever-higher risk-taking and self-harming described. Our findings indicate that sex as self-injury often includes deliberate sexual violence, and is similar to other self-injurious behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury. Sex as self-injury needs to be addressed in healthcare, such as in psychiatry and gynecology departments, to prevent further traumatization.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Malin Jenstav and Malin Meissner at Stockholm Tjejjour for their cooperation and their help and support with the data collection. We would also like to acknowledge all the organizations that have shared our questionnaire on their websites or social media: Stockholms Tjejjour, Ungdomsjouren Animo, Örebro tjejjour, Tjejjouren Luleå, Tjejjouren Lund, Tjejjouren Norrköping, Tjejjouren Beate Linköping, Tjejjouren Miranda, Tjejjouren Lina, Lycksele Tjejjour, Tjejjouren Indra, Juventas Ungdomsjour, Uppsala Tjejjour, Trans- och Tjejjouren Malmö, Karlstad Tjejjour, Tjejjouren Lotus, Tjejjouren Meja, Tjejjouren Magnolia, Tjejjouren Ronja, Föreningen Storasystrar, Föreningen Tillsammans, RFSU, Tjejzonen, RISE, HOPP, WONSA, 1000 möjligheter, Sheedo, Föreningen Tilia, Roks, Unizon, tjejjouren.se, inte till salu, Kvinno- och tjejjouren Huddinge, Kristianstad kvinnojour, Kvinnohuset KG and umo.se. Finally, we would like to thank the participants in the study for sharing their stories.