Sexual compulsivity among heterosexual college students

Journal of Sex Research, Nov, 2004 by Brian Dodge, Michael Reece, Sara L. Cole, Theo G.M. Sandfort

The survey also measured frequencies of protected and unprotected anal. vaginal, and oral sex. We created subscales to assess risky sex, in terms of possible HIV/STD infection, for men (number of partners and times for unprotected oral sex and unprotected insertive vaginal and anal intercourse) and for women (number of partners and times for unprotected oral sex and unprotected receptive vaginal and anal intercourse). Reliability of the risky sexual behavior subscales was determined to be acceptable for men ([alpha] = .75) and for women ([alpha] = .76).

Analyses

Data analyses included descriptive and inferential statistical techniques and were conducted in several steps. First, we assessed reliability of the SCS. Next, where appropriate, we used Spearman's correlations, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), independent-samples t tests, and Pearson's correlations to determine the construct validity of the scale as well as to explore the potential bivariate relationships between sexual compulsivity and select demographic variables (gender, age, ethnicity, and sexual relationship status). Using Pearson's correlations, we examined the association between sexual compulsivity and risky sexual behaviors and we employed univariate ANOVAs to investigate the relationships between the SCS and specific sexual activities (solo sex, partner sex, public sex, and risky sex) while controlling for select demographic variables.

RESULTS

A total of 899 participants responded to the survey. We analyzed data from 876 self-identified heterosexual participants (Table 2). We excluded 15 bisexual, 6 gay, and 1 questioning participant since low response rates of nonheterosexual individuals prohibited further analyses and comparisons based on sexual orientation or identity. The sample consisted of 37% men (N = 325) and 63% women (n = 551). The mean age was 20.2 years (SD = .87). Eighty-nine percent identified as White (n = 777), 5% as Black (n = 45), and the remaining 6% as other ethnicities (n = 54). These demographics closely approximated the overall composition of the student body of the university from which the sample was drawn (mean age = 20.3.89% White, 5% Black).

In terms of sexual relationship status, 46% (n = 397) of the total participants reported currently being in an exclusive sexual relationship (that is, a relationship in which the two individuals engage in sexual activity exclusively with each other). An additional 21% (n = 183) reported current involvement in nonexclusive sexual situations (either currently maintaining multiple intimate relationships with several different sexual partners or currently engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners but not maintaining any sort of intimate relationship). The remainder of the participants (33%, n = 288) reported not being currently sexually active.

We found a significant relationship between gender and sexual relationship status, [chi square] (2, n = 876) = 45.02, p < 0.001. Women were significantly more likely to report being in exclusive sexual relationships (52%, n = 281) than men (36%, n = 116). Men were also significantly more likely to report current involvement in nonexclusive sexual situations (33%, n = 106) than were women (14%, n = 77). We did not find significant differences between men and women in terms of age and ethnicity.