Sexual compulsivity among heterosexual college students

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

Reliability

We determined that the reliability of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale was high in the total study sample ([alpha] = .82). In addition, we found high reliability for the subgroups of male participants ([alpha] = .77) and female participants ([alpha] = .81) within the sample. All item-total correlations were .40 or higher (see Table 1).

Construct Validity

We found a significant relationship between sexual compulsivity and partner sex activities, r(876) = 0.14, p < 0.001 (see Table 2). Individuals who reported a broader range of partner sex activities with higher frequencies had higher sexual compulsivity scores.

A significant relationship between solo sex activities and sexual compulsivity also emerged, r(876) = 0.38, p < 0.001. Participants who reported a broader range of masturbatory activities with higher frequencies were more likely to have higher sexual compulsivity scores.

The data also revealed a significant relationship between public sex activities and sexual compulsivity, r(876) = 0.24, p < 0.001. Participants who reported a broader range of public sex activities with higher frequencies were more likely to have higher sexual compulsivity scores.

Lastly, we found a significant association between sexual compulsivity and self-reported sexual relationship status, F(2, 865) = 31.37, p < 0.001. Tukey HSD post-hoc analyses revealed that participants who reported current involvement in nonexclusive sexual situations (M = 1.64, SD = .39) were significantly more likely to have higher sexual compulsivity scores than those who reported exclusive sexual relationships (M = 1.40, SD = .35) and those who reported not being currently sexually active (M = 1.39, SD = .37).

The relationships between solo, partner, and public sex activities and sexual compulsivity all remained significant when we controlled for demographic variables (Table 3).

Demographics

We found a significant difference between men and women in terms of sexual compulsivity scores, t(876) = 12.63, p < 0.001, d = .81 (Table 2). Mean scores of sexual compulsivity were higher for men (M = 1.64, SD = .40) than for women (M = 1.33, SD = .32).

A significant relationship was also present between sexual compulsivity scores and age. As age decreased, participants were more likely to have higher mean scores of sexual compulsivity, r(876) = 0.13, p < 0.001. Results did not reveal significant differences in levels of sexual compulsivity when groups were compared by ethnicity.

Risky Sexual Behaviors

Sexual compulsivity was positively related to sexual behaviors considered to be risky in terms of HIV/STD infection for both male and female participants (Table 2). Men and women who had higher sexual compulsivity scores were more likely to have engaged in unprotected oral, vaginal, and anal sex in the preceding 3 months, respectively r(325) = 0.24, p < 0.001 and r(551) = 0.16, p < 0.001. The relationship between risky sexual behaviors and sexual compulsivity remained significant when we controlled for demographic variables (Table 3).