Deviance or Normalcy? The Relationship Among Paraphilic Thoughts and Behaviors, Hypersexuality, and Psychopathology in a Sample of University Students

Abstract

Introduction The actual definitions of paraphilic thoughts or behaviors and hypersexuality are still a matter of debate in the scientific community, and few studies have evaluated their psychopathological correlates in non-clinical samples of both men and women. Aim This study aimed at shedding light on the gender differences in terms of frequency of paraphilic fantasies and behaviors, and the relationship among paraphilias, hypersexuality, and general psychopathology. Methods A sample of 775 university students (243 men, 532 women) was recruited from 6 Italian universities using questionnaires posted in social networks. Paraphilic behaviors, fantasies, and masturbation during these fantasies were evaluated, as well as hypersexuality, psychopathological correlates, self-perceived gender identity, and a history of adverse childhood conditions. Main Outcome Measures Participants were assessed on the presence of paraphilic fantasies, behaviors, and masturbation related to paraphilic thoughts, and evaluated by means of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised, the Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory, the International Index of Erectile Function, the Female Sexual Function Index, the Gender Identity/Gender Dysphoria Questionnaire, and the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire. Results In the present survey, 50.6% of the men and 41.5% of the women reported at least 1 behavior considered paraphilic. A gender difference in the prevalence of the main paraphilic interests and behaviors was observed, with men reporting a higher prevalence of voyeurism, exhibitionism, sadism, and frotteurism, and a higher prevalence of fetishism and masochism in women. Both general psychopathology and sexual dysfunctions were associated with hypersexuality, rather than with the content of sexual fantasies. Finally, an association between childhood adversities and hypersexuality was found in women but not in men. Clinical Implications Understanding the psychopathological correlates of paraphilic fantasies/behaviors and hypersexuality may allow clinicians to develop specific psychological and pharmacological interventions. Strengths & Limitations This is one of the few studies assessing paraphilic phenomenology and psychopathological correlates of hypersexuality in a non-clinical sample of both men and women. Conclusion The results seem to demonstrate that paraphilic thoughts and behaviors are not really a deviation from normalcy, rather they are quite widespread in the young population, and the distinction between healthy and pathological sexual interests may be better replaced by an all-encompassing approach considering ego-dystonic sexuality, hypersexuality, and their psychopathological correlates.

<p>Spotlight on Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder: A Systematic Review of Research on Women</p>

“…123 The results of another study showed a positive correlation between sexual compulsivity and both anxious and avoidant attachment. 125 Finally, one study showed an association between childhood adversities and CSB among women, 123 and another four studies revealed a relationship between sexual compulsivity and child sexual abuse (CSA). [135][136][137][138] Prior works have found a significant relationship between CSA and insecure attachment [171][172][173] and demonstrated their high prevalence among individuals with CSB symptoms.…”

“…In addition to the result suggesting CSB (assessed by SAST-R) 98 being less present among women regardless of the history of sexual abuse, authors have, however, found that participants (both men and women) with a history of CSA reported more attachment anxiety in romantic relationships than those without a history of CSA. Castellini and colleagues' study 123 revealed an association between childhood adversities (assessed by The Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse) 139 and CSB (assessed by Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory) 128 among women, but not among men.…”

“…Some research, including those described in the previous sections, assessed the relationship between CSB and general psychopathology and sexual functioning, 123 sexual satisfaction, 43 sexting behaviors, 124 forming intimate relationship, 45 attachment, 125 sexual orientation, 125 and sexual excitation/inhibition. 126 The results of an Italian study by Castellini and colleagues, 123 conducted on a non-clinical sample of 532 women and 243 men showed that sexual dysfunctions (in women assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index), 121 as well as general psychopathology (assessed by The Symptom Checklist [SCL]-90-Revised), 127 were associated with CSB symptom severity (assessed by Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory) 128 in both women and men. In the case of sexual satisfaction, Daspe and colleagues 43 found that gender, length of the relationship, and parenthood did not moderate the interaction between frequency of pornography use and relationship and sexual satisfaction in the prediction of perceived lack of control over pornography viewing.…”

“…Several studies aimed to verify whether a child sexual abuse (CSA) may play a role in the development of CSB symptoms. 123,[134][135][136][137][138] Meyer and colleagues 134 examined gender differences in this area in a study on a sample of 504 women and 308 men aged 18-78 years. In addition to the result suggesting CSB (assessed by SAST-R) 98 being less present among women regardless of the history of sexual abuse, authors have, however, found that participants (both men and women) with a history of CSA reported more attachment anxiety in romantic relationships than those without a history of CSA.…”

Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf Sexualität und Beziehung

“…Männer zeigten eine höhere Prävalenz für Voyeu rismus, Exhibitionismus, Masochismus und Frotteurismus, Frauen für Fetischismus und Masochismus. Die Ausbildung von Paraphi lien bei Männern zeigte einen Zusammenhang mit Hypersexua lität, bei Frauen mit sexuellen Übergriffen in der Kindheit [8]. Zu einem ähnlichen Ergebnis kam ein Forscherteam in Kanada.…”