Childhood abuse linked to sexual compulsivity, violent sexual behaviour

Impulsivity appears to be associated with violent sexual behaviour (VSB) in individuals with compulsive sexual behaviour (CSB) who suffered childhood abuse, reveals a study.

A total of 364 cisgender men (247 CSB and 117 controls) who underwent psychiatric structured interview and answered self-responsive standardized measures were included in this study.

The investigators developed the Sexual Violence Factor (SVF) after a factorial analysis of the sexual violence subscale of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory-22 and used it as the outcome variable of VSB. They also used a structural equation model (SEM) for analysis.

In the SEM analysis, childhood abuse displayed a moderate association with impulsivity (coefficient=0.37; p<0.001), anxiety and depression (coefficient=0.61; p<0.001), sexual compulsivity (coefficient=0.58; p<0.001), and SVF in adulthood (coefficient=0.41; p=0.01). Sexual compulsivity, however, showed no association with SVF.

“Impulsivity potentially associates with both childhood abuse and SVF, potentially implicating in more intensive clinical care for impulsive changes when a history of childhood abuse is present,” the investigators said.

The study was limited by the inclusion of fewer women and missing data. The result could also not be generalized because of the convenience sampling method used.

On the other hand, “[t]he use of the SEM allowed for a comprehensive examination of the relationships among key psychopathological factors (emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, sexual compulsivity), and trauma experiences with the VSB, helping to identify confounding factors,” the investigators said.