An Online Assessment of Personality, Psychological, and Sexuality Trait Variables Associated with Self-Reported Hypersexual Behavior

Abstract

"Hypersexual" behavior represents a perceived inability to control one's sexual behavior. To investigate hypersexual behavior, an international sample of 510 self-identified heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual men and women completed an anonymous online self-report questionnaire battery. In addition to age and sex (male), hypersexual behavior was related to higher scores on measures of sexual excitation, sexual inhibition due to the threat of performance failure, trait impulsivity, and both depressed mood and anxiety. In contrast, hypersexual behavior was related to lower scores on sexual inhibition due to the threat of performance consequences. Higher neuroticism and extraversion, as well as lower agreeableness and conscientiousness, also predicted hypersexual behavior. Interestingly, interactions among the variables assessed did not significantly predict hypersexual behavior, suggesting the possible existence of multiple and predominantly independent taxa for various persons reporting hypersexual behavior. Core personality features may also be present in persons with hypersexual behavior. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.

Revisiting the Role of Impulsivity and Compulsivity in Problematic Sexual Behaviors

“…The aforementioned findings suggest that hypersexuality is related to generalized impulsivity and that hypersexual males are not a homogenous group regarding impulsivity levels (Miner et al, 2016;Mulhauser et al, 2014). However, the findings suggest that impulsivity importantly relates to hypersexuality (Pachankis et al, 2014;Reid et al, 2014;Walton et al, 2017).…”

“…However, little research has focused on the relationship BŐTHE, TÓTH-KIRÁLY, POTENZA, GRIFFITHS, OROSZ, AND DEMETROVICS between impulsivity and problematic pornography use. On the other hand, data suggest that impulsivity relates to hypersexuality, with other personality-related measures also showing relationships (Miner et al, 2016;Mulhauser et al, 2014;Pachankis et al, 2014;Reid et al, 2014;Walton et al, 2017).…”

“…Within the field of hypersexuality, previous research on heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual men and women has identified a positive but weak association between selfreported impulsive tendencies and hypersexuality. This suggests that people with higher impulsivity are more likely to engage in hypersexual behaviors (Walton, Cantor, & Lykins, 2017). However, in a study examining a combined sample of hypersexual males and healthy community controls, a moderate positive association was found between impulsivity and the level of hypersexuality, a relationship persisting when anxiety, depression, vulnerability, and mindfulness were taken into consideration (Reid, Bramen, Anderson, & Cohen, 2014).…”

“…In the case of hypersexuality, research has shown that impulsivity is weakly or moderately associated with hypersexual behaviors, fantasies, and urges (Pachankis et al, 2014;Reid et al, 2014;Walton et al, 2017). However, comparisons of hypersexual and nonhypersexual individuals have not shown consistent results (Miner et al, 2016;Mulhauser et al, 2014).…”

Frequency and associated factors related to sexual addiction in medical students from 16 Latin American cities, 2016: a regional multicentric study

“…With regard to age, the frequency of sexual addiction increased at an older age; these results are consistent with studies performed in Sweden and the United States of America; in which it was determined that young adults are more likely to suffer from "hypersexuality" and to show behaviors related to compulsive sexuality 14,17 . However, it is essential to highlight that the relationship between younger age and hypersexuality has not always shown an association, being demonstrated by a study that used a virtual platform 18 . Therefore, it is necessary to characterize the age groups that present more significant problems of addiction in each reality, to focus on them the programs of prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.…”