Dispositional Mindfulness, Shame, and Compulsive Sexual Behaviors Among Men in Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Approximately 31% of men in treatment for a substance use disorders (SUD) engage in compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). Shame, a well-documented consequence of CSB, increases the likelihood of relapse following treatment for SUDs. Despite the risk of relapse, prior research has not investigated factors that may attenuate the relation between CSB and shame. Dispositional mindfulness is one such factor known to mitigate shame. However, researchers have yet to examine dispositional mindfulness as a moderator of the relationship between CSB and shame among a sample of men in treatment for SUDs. In an effort to inform intervention efforts, the present study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that CSB would not relate to shame among men with high, as opposed to low, levels of dispositional mindfulness. The present study reviewed medical records of 184 men in residential treatment for SUDs who completed cross-sectional measures of shame, CSB, dispositional mindfulness, and substance use problems. Results demonstrated a significant interaction between CSB and dispositional mindfulness such that CSB positively related to shame at low, but not mean or high, levels of dispositional mindfulness. These results support and extend previous mindfulness and CSB treatment research. Findings suggested that intervention efforts for CSB may benefit from increasing dispositional mindfulness in an effort to reduce shame-related cognitions.

Experiential Avoidance as a Mediator of the Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness and Compulsive Sexual Behaviors among Men in Residential Substance Use Treatment

“…Findings from the present study supported and extended prior research demonstrating that dispositional mindfulness negatively related to CSB (Brem et al, in press-b; Reid et al, 2014; Shorey et al, 2016). Specifically, our data suggested that men who were more attentive and accepting of present-moment experiences were less likely to evidence CSB.…”

“…Higher dispositional mindfulness is considered an indicator of psychological health (Keng, Smoski, & Robins, 2011). Consistent with this notion, dispositional mindfulness negatively related to a number of maladaptive psychological phenomena, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and CSB (Brem et al, in press-b).…”

“…Dispositional mindfulness gained increased attention as a protective factor for CSB (Brem, Shorey, Anderson, & Stuart, in press-b; Reid, Bramen, Anderson, & Cohen, 2014; Shorey, Elmquist, Gawrysiak, Anderson, & Stuart, 2016). However, the processes underlying this relationship remain unknown.…”

“…Moreover, researchers began to investigate dispositional mindfulness as a protective factor for CSB (Brem et al, in press-b; Reid et al, 2014; Shorey et al, 2016). Research supported a robust, negative relationship between mindfulness and CSB among a clinical sample of men seeking CSB treatment (Reid et al, 2014), and among men in residential treatment for SUD (Brem et al, in press-b; Shorey et al, 2016). Although these researchers speculated that the adaptive emotion regulation capabilities that mindful individuals have (e.g., less experiential avoidance) may explain the negative association between dispositional mindfulness and CSB, this hypothesis has yet to be tested.…”

Is Compulsive Sexual Behavior Different in Women Compared to Men?

“…While people with CSBD are often suffering intensely, some of them are also suffering quietly. Studies have shown that people with CSBD are often stigmatized and experience shame and guilt for their behavior, which in turn drives them to hide it [ 7 ]. Even people who are in treatment for other psychological problems report that they do not mention their sexual behavior in therapy or treatment [ 6 ].…”