Contrasting Preoccupation With Relationships to Preoccupation With Isolative Sex

Abstract

Relationship preoccupation and preoccupation with isolated sex are not well studied as yet. Sexual Dependency Inventory 4.0 data from people seeking treatment for sex addiction were used to compare groups defined as high preoccupation with relationships (REL), high preoccupation with isolated sex (ISOL), high on both (BOTH), or high on neither (NE). The groups were compared on sex addiction symptoms and consequences of sexual behavior. The 3 elevated groups (REL, ISOL, and BOTH) were used to establish profiles of associated sexual preoccupations. Results found that men and women of the BOTH group had higher scores on all measures of sexual addiction symptoms, consequences, and preoccupations. Contrasting groups elevated on REL to groups elevated on ISOL uncovered some gender differences in symptoms. However, consequences of sexual behaviors associated with high REL and high ISOL were largely similar across genders. The findings of this study suggest that clients scoring high on both the Preoccupation with Relationships and Preoccupation with Isolated Fantasizing are more likely to show high levels of preoccupation with a wide variety of other sexual interests and more likely to report more severe symptoms and consequences related to sexual addiction.