The Role of Childhood Experiences in the Development of Sexual Compulsivity

Abstract

There is a lack of evidence regarding the nature of the relationship between childhood trauma and sexual compulsivity in adulthood. Participants (n = 348) were users of support websites relating to drug, alcohol, gambling, and sexual addictions who completed an online survey including addiction questionnaires, the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, and the Early Trauma Inventory (Short Form). Multiple regression modeling indicated that gender, sexual orientation, childhood emotional abuse, childhood exposure to pornography, and parental sex addiction were associated with sexual compulsivity in adulthood (R² = 0.23). Childhood sexual or physical abuse and addictions to other behaviors (alcohol, drugs, gambling) were not associated with adult sexual compulsivity.

Acknowledgments

Susan McPherson and Heather Wood designed the study and wrote the outline protocol. Under supervision of all other authors, Sarah Clayton wrote a full protocol, conducted literature searches, collected data, conducted initial analyses, and wrote draft findings up as a thesis. Syd Hiskey supervised design of online data collection materials, Leanne Andrews supervised statistical analyses. Susan McPherson supervised all aspects of the work, conducted final statistical analyses, wrote the first draft of the article, and all authors contributed to and have approved the final article. All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.