Emotionally laden impulsivity interacts with affect in predicting addictive use of online sexual activity in men

Abstract The interest in studying addictive use of online sexual activities (OSA) has grown sharply over the last decade. Despite the burgeoning number of studies conceptualizing the excessive use of OSA as an addictive disorder, few have tested its relations to impulsivity, which is known to constitute a hallmark of addictive behaviors. To address this missing gap in the literature, we tested the relationships between addictive OSA use, impulsivity traits, and affect among a convenience sample of men ( N = 182; age, M = 29.17, SD = 9.34), building upon a theoretically driven model that distinguishes the various facets of impulsivity. Results showed that negative urgency (an impulsivity trait reflecting the tendency to act rashly in negative emotional states) and negative affect interact in predicting addictive OSA use. These results highlight the pivotal role played by negative urgency and negative affect in addictive OSA use, supporting the relevance of psychological interventions that focus on improving emotional regulation (e.g., to reduce negative affect and learn healthier coping strategies) to mitigate excessive use of OSA

Problematic online sexual activities in men: The role of self‐esteem, loneliness, and social anxiety

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Characteristics of self-identified sexual addicts in a behavioral addiction outpatient clinic

Background and aims Research on sexual addiction flourished during the last decade, promoted by the development of an increased number of online sexual activities. Despite the accumulation of studies, however, evidence collected in clinical samples of treatment-seeking people remains scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics (socio-demographics, sexual habits, and comorbidities) of self-identified “sexual addicts.” Methods The sample was composed of 72 patients who consulted an outpatient treatment center regarding their sexual behaviors. Data were collected through a combination of structured interviewing and self-report measures. Results Most patients were males (94.4%) aged 20–76 years (mean 40.3 ± 10.9). Endorsement of sexual addiction diagnosis varied from 56.9% to 95.8% depending on the criteria used. The sexual behaviors reported to have the highest degree of functional impairment were having multiple sexual partners (56%), having unprotected sexual intercourse (51.9%), and using cybersex (43.6%). Ninety percent of patients endorsed a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, and 60.6% presented at least one paraphilia. Conclusions Results showed highly different profiles in terms of sexual preferences and behaviors, as well as comorbidities involved. These findings highlight the need to develop tailored psychotherapeutic interventions by taking into account the complexity and heterogeneity of the disorder

Positive and Negative Urgency as a single coherent construct: Evidence from a large‐scale network analysis in clinical and non‐clinical samples

Aims: Negative and positive urgency are emotion-related impulsivity traits that are thought to be transdiagnostic factors in psychopathology. However, it has recently been claimed that these two traits are closely related to each other and that considering them separately might have limited conceptual and methodological value. The present study aimed to examine whether positive and negative urgency constructs constitute separate impulsivity traits. Methods: In contrast to previous studies that have used latent variable approaches, this study employed an item-based network analysis conducted in two different samples: a large sample of non-clinical participants (N = 18,568) and a sample of clinical participants with psychiatric disorders (N = 385). Results: The network analysis demonstrated that items denoting both positive and negative urgency cohere as a single cluster of items termed “general urgency” in both clinical and non-clinical samples, thereby suggesting that differentiating positive and negative urgency as separate constructs is not necessary. Conclusion: These findings have important implications for the conceptualization and assessment of urgency and, more broadly, for future research on impulsivity, personality, and psychopathology

Les facteurs de risque impliqués dans l'utilisation problématique d'activités sexuelles en ligne chez les hommes

With the democratization of the Internet in the early 2000s, countless sexual sites have emerged. Their number is constantly increasing, becoming more and more interactive and immersive with the evolution of digital technologies. Following this expansion and democratization of access to various types of sexual content/material on the Internet, requests for psychological treatment related to the excessive use of online sexuality are on the rise and researchers started to study this phenomenon. This thesis aims to focus on the use of online sexuality, and particularly on people for whom this consumption has become problematic, out of control and results in negative consequences and functional impairment. More specifically, we are interested in the risk factors involved in the development and perpetuation of a problematic use, and this, in order to better conceptualize this condition and therefore propose tailored and process-based psychological treatments.(PSYE - Sciences psychologiques et de l'éducation) -- UCL, 201

The Short French Internet Addiction Test adapted to online sexual activities: Validation and links with online sexual preferences and addiction symptoms.

The goal of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of a French version of the short Internet Addiction Test adapted to online sexual activities (s-IAT-sex). The French version of the s-IAT-sex was administered to a sample of 401 men. The participants also completed a questionnaire that screened for sexual addiction (PATHOS). The relationships of s-IAT-sex scores with time spent online for online sexual activities (OSAs) and the types of OSAs favored were also considered. Confirmatory analyses supported a 2-factor model of the s-IAT-sex, corresponding to the factorial structure found in earlier studies that used the short IAT. The first factor regroups loss of control and time management, whereas the second factor regroups craving and social problems. Internal consistency for each factor was evaluated with Cronbach’s coefficient, resulting in .87 for Factor 1, .76 for Factor 2, and .88 for the global scale. Concurrent validity was supported by relationships with symptoms of sexual addiction, types of OSAs practiced, and time spent online for OSAs. The prevalence of sexual addiction (measured by PATHOS) was 28.1% in the current sample of self-selected male OSA users. The French version of the s-IAT-sex presents good psychometric properties and constitutes a useful tool for researchers and practitioners

Online sexual activities: An exploratory study of problematic and non-problematic usage patterns in a sample of men

Involvement in online sexual activities (OSAs) is ubiquitous, especially in males, and can under certain circumstances become problematic. The risk factors associated with problematic OSAs remain, however, poorly explored. The current study aimed to investigate the characteristics, usage patterns, and motives for men to engage in OSAs and to disentangle the risk factors associated with problematic OSAs. To this end, 434 men completed an online survey measuring socio-demographic information, OSAs consumption habits, motives for engaging in OSAs, symptoms of problematic OSAs, and sexual dysfunctions. Results showed that watching pornography is the most prevalent OSA, and sexual gratification is the most frequent motive for OSAs involvement. Additional multiple regression analyses indicated that the following characteristics are associated with problematic use of OSAs: (a) partnered-arousal activities (e.g., sex chat) and solitary-arousal activities (e.g., pornography); (b) anonymous fantasizing and mood regulation motives; and (c) higher sexual desire, lower overall sexual satisfaction, and lower erectile function. This study sheds new light on the characteristics, motives, and sexual function of men involved in OSAs, emphasizing that problematic OSAs are heterogeneous and depend on interrelated factors. The findings support tailoring of preventive actions and clinical interventions to both OSA type and individual risk factors

Utilisation problématique de cybersexualité : Un modèle psychologique intégratif.

Depuis l’apparition et le développement d’Internet, de nombreux sites à caractère sexuel ont vu le jour et sont utilisés par de multiples usagers. Une partie de ces utilisateurs présentent une utilisation problématique de cybersexualité et développent des comportements sexuels en ligne de nature excessive et/ou addictive. Un champ de recherche focalisé sur cette population a récemment émergé, notamment afin d’identifier les facteurs de risques impliqués et les processus psychologiques sous-jacents. Cependant, ces facteurs sont souvent étudiés isolement, ne permettant pas d’aboutir à une description exhaustive et intégrée de ce comportement problématique multi-déterminé. L’objectif central du présent article est dès lors de proposer, sur base de la littérature existante, un modèle intégratif et processuel des facteurs psychologiques impliqués dans l’utilisation problématique de cybersexualité et ce, afin de permettre d’une part de structurer les recherches futures sur la thématique en ciblant les processus centralement impliqués, et d’autre part de mieux évaluer et prendre en charge, en contexte clinique, les personnes présentant ce type de problématique

Where the Mind Cannot Dare: A Case of Addictive Use of Online Pornography and Its Relationship With Childhood Trauma.

Dysfunctional use of cybersex has often been conceptualized as a "behavioral addiction" sharing common traits with substance addiction. We describe the case of a treatment-seeking man, who displayed addictive use of pornography. The case is presented from two perspectives: (1) a symptom-based approach inspired by the addiction model of excessive sexual behaviors and (2) a process-based approach aimed to identify the psychological processes and risk factors that may foster the development of addiction-like symptoms. This article shows how case conceptualization according to a process-based approach is likely to result in psychological intervention that targets the specific processes and risk factors involved in addictive cybersex use