Extradyadic Sexual Involvement and Sexual Compulsivity in Male and Female Sexual Abuse Survivors

Abstract

We tested a mediation model in which the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) severity and extradyadic sexual involvement (ESI) is explained through sexual compulsivity. Participants were 669 adults currently involved in an intimate relationship who completed self-report questionnaires. Prevalence of ESI was 32% in women and 57% in men survivors, more than twice the rates among participants with no CSA history. Sexual compulsivity was significantly higher in participants with multiple extradyadic partners as compared to participants reporting only one extradyadic relationship, who nevertheless scored higher than participants reporting no extradyadic partner. The hypothesized structural equation model (SEM) was invariant across men and women and indicated CSA severity was positively and significantly associated with sexual compulsivity, which, in turn, predicted ESI. However, there was also a direct association between CSA and ESI. High CSA severity, directly and through high sexual compulsivity, led to the highest probability of ESI.

Funding

Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel was supported by doctoral fellowships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS). Natacha Godbout was supported by a research scholar grants from the Fonds de recherche du Québec–Santé (FRQ-S). We thank Hélène Paradis and Bei Feng for their assistance with the statistical analyses.

Notes

¹ Where τ is the threshold of the model, λ₁ is the regression coefficient between sexual compulsivity and ESI, λ₂ is the regression coefficient between CSA severity and ESI, η₁ is the value of sexual compulsivity latent factor, η₂ is the value of CSA severity latent factor, θ is the residual value of infidelity, and φ is the normal distribution function.

Additional information

Funding

Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel was supported by doctoral fellowships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS). Natacha Godbout was supported by a research scholar grants from the Fonds de recherche du Québec–Santé (FRQ-S). We thank Hélène Paradis and Bei Feng for their assistance with the statistical analyses.