The Relationship between Stress Coping Styles and Community Support among Iranian Members of Sexaholics Anonymous Twelve-Step Program

ABSTRACT

In this study, we hypothesized that community support may associated with coping styles of individuals (N = 163) seeking help for their compulsive sexual behaviors from a community seeking treatment called Sexaholic Anonymous (SA) program. We also assume that gender may play a role in the choice of coping strategies by the Iranian sample SA. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze data. We found a significant association between coping styles and elements of community support of program for SA. Those who received community support including regular phone calls to other members and attending meetings regularly utilized task-oriented (p < 0.001) and avoidance-oriented coping styles (p < 0.001) more than emotion-oriented styles (p < 0.001). Sponsors utilized task-oriented coping styles (p < 0.001) more than emotion-oriented (p < 0.001) or avoidance-oriented coping styles (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that community support may have associated with precipitating or perpetuating one’s stress management using variety of copying styles.