Sexual Shame and Emotion Dysregulation: Key Roles in the Association between Internalized Homonegativity and Sexual Compulsivity

ABSTRACT

Sexual minority men (SMM) are at increased risk for mental health problems due to effects of sexual minority stigma (e.g., internalized homonegativity (IH)). Both IH and emotion dysregulation are contributors to sexual compulsivity; however, the role of feelings of sexual shame have not been examined in this association. A sample of 982 HIV-negative SMM completed online surveys (Mage = 42.4, SD = 13.74). Path analyses indicated significant direct effects of IH on sexual shame (β = 0.44, p < .001), emotion dysregulation (β = 0.19, p < .001), and sexual compulsivity (β = 0.22, p < .001). Modeled simultaneously, the association between sexual shame and sexual compulsivity (β = 0.26, p < .001) was significant, as was the association between emotion dysregulation and sexual compulsivity (β = 0.27, p < .001). Finally, an indirect effect of IH on sexual compulsivity through both sexual shame (p < .001) and emotion dysregulation (p < .001) was significant, and the association between IH and sexual compulsivity was reduced to non-significant (β = 0.01, p = .74). Targeting feelings of sexual shame and emotion dysregulation in clinical interventions may help reduce the negative health impact of sexual compulsivity among SMM.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by a diversity supplement from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute on Child Health and Human Development under [Grant U19-HD089875-03S2]; a Career Development Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse under [Grant K01-DA039030]; and a research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse under [Grant R01-DA036466].