The Role of Childhood Experiences in the Development of Sexual Compulsivity

There is a lack of evidence regarding the nature of the relationship between childhood trauma and sexual compulsivity in adulthood. Participants (n = 348) were users of support websites relating to drug, alcohol, gambling, and sexual addictions who completed an online survey including addiction questionnaires, the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, and the Early Trauma Inventory (Short Form). Multiple regression modeling indicated that gender, sexual orientation, childhood emotional abuse, childhood exposure to pornography, and parental sex addiction were associated with sexual compulsivity in adulthood (R2 = 0.23). Childhood sexual or physical abuse and addictions to other behaviors (alcohol, drugs, gambling) were not associated with adult sexual compulsivity.