NCJ Number
221633
Journal
Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2007 Pages: 321-335
Date Published
December 2007
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the variables that significantly predicted sexual compulsivity and risk-taking behaviors regarding use of the Internet.
Abstract
Significant differences were found between men and women and sexual compulsivity and risk-taking behaviors. Men had significantly higher sexual compulsivity (SCS) scores and higher sexual risk-taking (SSSS) scores than women. Men also had significantly higher nonsexual risk-taking scores than women. One-third of the female and about one-fifth of the male participants reported that they did not use the Internet for online sexual purposes. Men significantly reported viewing erotic material, looking for a sexual partner, and replying to sex ads more than women. Significant differences were found between under class students and upper class students who used the Internet for sexual purposes, with upper class students’ usage significantly higher than under class students. As time in college increased, risk-taking behaviors to gain sexual sensation increased, including an increased use of the Internet for adult entertainment, and an increase in sexual compulsivity and risk taking behaviors. A similar pattern was reported of levels of interference, jeopardy, and distress in the lives of respondents. Individuals who were sexually compulsive spent significantly more time online engaging in adult entertainment than individuals who were nonsexually compulsive. Age of exposure to pornographic material was a significant predictor of sexual sensation seeking behavior. Exposure to pornography was a significant antecedent to sexual addiction for 94 percent of males in treatment for sexual illnesses. Findings suggest that when participants are exposed to repeated sexually explicit material they will develop an appetite for more deviant, bizarre, or violent types of material. With the availability, access, and anonymity that the Internet provides, children are likely to be exposed to pornographic material at younger and younger ages. Unknowingly, children can stumble across graphic pornographic images, and even become targeted aggressively through spam e-mail and browser profiles. Table, references