Traumatized Sexuality: Understanding and Predicting Profiles of Sexual Behaviors Using Childhood Abuse and Trauma Measures
Abstract
In the current study we sought to identify sexual behavior profiles and examine the levels of childhood abuse history and trauma
measures in each profile. The study was conducted among a large non-clinical sample of men and women (n = 806). Latent
profile analysis was employed to identify distinct profiles of sexual behaviors and then childhood abuse, posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, and motives for engaging in sex were assessed in each profile. Four distinct profiles of
sexual behavior were identified: hyposexual individuals, hypersexual porn users, porn users, and within usual ranges (WURs).
Hypersexual porn users had significantly more childhood trauma (emotional, physical, and sexual) than WURs, significantly
greater PTSD symptom than WURs and hyposexual individuals, and significantly greater anxiety and depression as compared
with all other groups. The hyposexual individuals had significantly lower scores on all motives for engaging in sex than did porn
users or hypersexual porn users. Hypersexual porn users and porn users reported coping and peer-pressure as motives for
engaging in sex more than did WURs or hyposexual individuals. Clinicians working with survivors of childhood abuse should
consider directly targeting these different maladaptive sexual behaviors by addressing PTSD symptoms, affective disorders, and
motives for engaging in sex
Description
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Article
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Keywords
International Resources, Israel, traumatized sex, child abuse, PTSD, maladaptive sexual behaviors, latent profile analysis
Citation
Gewirtz-Meydan, A. (2022). Traumatized sexuality: understanding and predicting profiles of sexual behaviors using childhood abuse and trauma measures. Child maltreatment, 10775595221148425.