Cybersex use and problematic cybersex use among young Swiss men: Associations with sociodemographic, sexual, and psychological factors

Predictors of compulsive cyberporn use: A machine learning analysis

Introduction

Compulsive cyberporn use (CCU) has previously been reported among people who use cyberporn. However, most of the previous studies included convenience samples of students or samples of the general adult population. Research examining the factors that predict or are associated with CCU are still scarce.In this study, we aimed to (a) assess compulsive cyberporn consumption in a broad sample of people who had used cyberporn and (b) determine, among a diverse range of predictor variables, which are most important in CCU scores, as assessed with the eight-item Compulsive Internet Use Scale adapted for cyberporn.

Materials and Methods

Overall, 1584 adult English speakers (age: 18-75 years, M = 33.18; sex: 63.1 % male, 35.2 % female, 1.7 % nonbinary) who used cyberporn during the last 6 months responded to an online questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic, sexual, psychological, and psychosocial variables. Their responses were subjected to correlation analysis, analysis of variance, and machine learning analysis.

Results

Among the participants, 21.96% (in the higher quartile) presented CCU symptoms in accordance with their CCU scores. The five most important predictors of CCU scores were related to the users' strength of craving for pornography experiences, suppression of negative emotions porn use motive, frequency of cyberporn use over the past year, acceptance of rape myths, and anxious attachment style.

Conclusions

From a large and diverse pool of variables, we determined the most important predictors of CCU scores. The findings contribute to a better understanding of problematic pornography use and could enrich compulsive cyberporn treatment and prevention.

Does loneliness mediate the association between social media use disorder and sexual function in Lebanese university students?

Research on the association between social media use disorder (SMUD) and face-to-face sexual function remains controversial, surprisingly scarce and even non-existing in certain vulnerable populations such as university students. We aimed to explore the mediating role of loneliness between SMUD and two dimensions of sexual function (sexual arousal and desire) in a sample of Lebanese university students. A total of 363 university students participated in a cross-sectional survey. Sexual Dysfunction Questionnaire, Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale and Social Media Use Disorder scale were used to measure sexual function (desire and arousal), loneliness and SMUD respectively. The mediation analysis results showed that loneliness mediated the association between SMUD and sexual arousal (but not sexual desire). Higher SMUD was significantly associated with more loneliness, whereas more loneliness was significantly associated with less sexual arousal. Subsequently, higher SMUD was significantly associated with less sexual arousal. The present findings edge the university staff, clinicians, and researchers towards the psychological mechanisms that may help university students improve their sexual function, and calls for additional research in this area. Attention should be given to the possible potential role of moderating social media use in tackling loneliness and improving students' sexual function. In addition, routine sexual counseling should be considered when assessing and intervening with students having SMUD.

Profiles of Pornography Use Based on Addictive Mechanisms and Psychopathological Features

Studies using person-centered approaches to further explore the profiles of pornography users throw their psychiatric features are lacking. This study was designed to examine the different profiles of pornography users based on the addictive dimensions of Problematic Pornography Use (PPU) and to characterize these profiles according to psychopathological variables such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A sample of 1001 French adults participated to a survey containing scales related to psychopathological variables, cybersexual addiction and PPU. PPU was assessed with the French Version of Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (Fr-PPCS-18). An Agglomerative Hierarchical Classification was performed on the basis of FR-PPCS-18. A student's t-test was used to observe PPU and psychopathological differences between profiles. Findings revealed three profiles of users: non-problematic users (66.5%), at-risk users (29.9%), and problematic users (3.6%). There were significant differences between the three profiles concerning levels of global PPU, PPU mechanisms, cybersexual addiction symptoms, ADHD symptomatology and depressive symptomatology. Results confirmed the existence of different levels of severity of pornography use corresponding to three different profiles. Also, findings revealed the influence of ADHD symptoms, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and depressive symptoms on PPU.

Sexual stigmas among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals with problematic internet use and depression

Introduction

Sexual stigma causes psychological distress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. LGB individuals are more likely to exhibit both problematic Internet use (PIU) and significant depression than are heterosexual individuals. Whether the severities of sexual stigma varied among LGB individuals with various statuses of comorbid PIU and depression warrants study. The present study aimed to investigate the differences in the experiences of familial sexual stigma (FSS), internalized sexual stigma (ISS), and sexual orientation microaggressions (SOMs) among LGB individuals with various statuses of comorbid PIU and depression.

Methods

In total, 1,000 self-identified LGB young adult individuals participated in the study. The level of PIU was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale, depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, the experience of FSS was assessed using the Homosexuality-Related Stigma Scale, the experience of ISS was assessed using the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men, and the experience of sexual orientation microaggression was assessed using the Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory. The differences in the levels of FSS, ISS, and SOMs among the four groups [i.e., the groups with both PIU and depression (comorbid group), only depression, only PIU, and neither PIU nor depression (neither group)] were investigated using multivariate analysis of covariance.

Results

The results indicated that LGB individuals with comorbid PIU and depression reported higher levels of ISS and SOMs than did those with depression only and PIU only, respectively. Moreover, LGB individuals with PIU or significant depression had higher levels of FSS and SOMs than did those with neither PIU nor depression.

Discussion

The results of this study supported that the experiences of FSS, ISS, and SOMs were significantly associated with various levels of PIU and depression in LGB individuals.

The Relation of Sexual Attitudes to Hypersexuality and Problematic Pornography Use

Previous studies have shown that specific attitudes related to moral convictions can have an important role in the development and maintenance of problematic sexual behavior symptoms. However, although other types of attitudes, like sexual attitudes, are potentially highly relevant, they have not yet been studied in this role. We investigated how four dimensions of sexual attitudes: Permissiveness, Birth Control, Communion and Instrumentality, contribute to problematic pornography use (PPU) and hypersexual disorder (HD) symptoms, controlling for religiosity, sex, age and relationship status. The study was administered through an online questionnaire and based on a representative sample of n = 1036 (M_age = 43.28, SD = 14.21; 50.3% women) Polish adult citizens. When adjusting for other variables, higher sexual Permissiveness positively predicted HD and PPU among both men (HD: β = .26, p < .001; PPU: β = .22, p < .001) and women (HD: β = .44, p < .001; PPU: β = .26; p < .001). Sexual Instrumentality positively, although weakly, contributed to HD severity among men (β = .11, p < .05). Attitudes reflecting higher support for responsible sexuality (Birth Control subscale) negatively and weakly predicted HD among women (β = - .11, p < .05). Permissiveness was also the only sexual attitude dimension that consistently predicted a higher frequency of sexual activity among men and women. Based on the cutoff criteria proposed by the authors of the used screening instruments (≥ 53 points for the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory and ≥ 4 points for the Brief Pornography Screen), the prevalence of being at risk for HD was 10.0% (men: 11.4%, women: 8.7%) and for PPU was 17.8% (men: 26.8%, women: 9.1%). Our results point to a significant contribution of sexual attitudes to problematic sexual behavior symptoms, which was not encapsulated by the previously studied influence of religious beliefs, although most of the obtained relationships were relatively weak. Particularly, a consistent link between permissive attitudes and both HD and PPU among men and women may indicate that permissive attitudes can potentially contribute to the development and maintenance of problematic sexual behavior. The prevalence of being at risk for PPU (and to some degree HD) in the current representative sample was high. Such results raise questions about the appropriateness of the proposed cutoff criteria and the risk of overpathologizing normative sexual activity, if the cutoff thresholds are not tailored adequately. The results have implications for the assessment, diagnosis and theory of problematic sexual behavior.

Withdrawal and tolerance as related to compulsive sexual behavior disorder and problematic pornography use - Preregistered study based on a nationally representative sample in Poland

Background

The addiction model of compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and problematic pornography use (PPU) predicts the presence of withdrawal symptoms and increased tolerance for sexual stimuli in the disorder phenotype. However, clear empirical evidence supporting this claim has largely been lacking.

Methods

In the preregistered, nationally representative survey (n = 1,541, 51.2% women, age: M = 42.99, SD = 14.38), we investigated the role of self-reported withdrawal symptoms and tolerance with respect to CSBD and PPU severity.

Results

Both withdrawal and tolerance were significantly associated with the severities of CSBD (β = 0.34; P < 0.001 and β = 0.38; P < 0.001, respectively) and PPU (β = 0.24; P < 0.001 and β = 0.27; P < 0.001, respectively). Of the 21 withdrawal symptom types investigated, the most often reported symptoms were frequent sexual thoughts that were difficult to stop (for participants with CSBD: 65.2% and with PPU: 43.3%), increased overall arousal (37.9%; 29.2%), difficult to control level of sexual desire (57.6%; 31.0%), irritability (37.9%; 25.4%), frequent mood changes (33.3%; 22.6%), and sleep problems (36.4%; 24.5%).

Conclusions

Changes related to mood and general arousal noted in the current study were similar to the cluster of symptoms in a withdrawal syndrome proposed for gambling disorder and internet gaming disorder in DSM-5. The study provides preliminary evidence on an understudied topic, and present findings can have significant implications for understanding the etiology and classification of CSBD and PPU. Simultaneously, drawing conclusions about clinical importance, diagnostic utility and detailed characteristics of withdrawal symptoms and tolerance as a part of CSBD and PPU, as well as other behavioral addictions, requires further research efforts.

Hypersexual behaviour among young adults in Germany: characteristics and personality correlates

BACKGROUND

Hypersexual behaviour (HB) is characterized by recurring unsuccessful efforts to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses that result in sexual activities and manifest in the behaviour of the concerning individual over an extended period. This study aims to describe the characterization of HB among the target group, identify personality correlates, and associations between HB and a lack of sexual education and reflection during school time.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used to survey the participants (age 18-27; n = 609) online who were recruited via a web forum for addiction selfcare, a website for casual sex dating, Facebook and the mail distribution of the University of Applied Science Nordhausen (Germany). Standardised questionnaires were used to measure the key variables in the study. The sexual behaviour (masturbation, pornography consumption, promiscuity), several personality tendencies, and retrospective information about sexual education of the participants during school time were investigated. Correlation and binomial logistic regression were used to analyse the data with HB as the outcome variable.

RESULTS

10.5% (n = 64) of the participants were identified as hypersexual. The assignment to male sex, a problematic pornography consumption, and impulsive tendencies were determined as predictors of HB. Strong correlates were identified between HB and promiscuity, and impairments in important areas of life. Weak to moderate correlates comprise between HB and all investigated personality traits, and several aspects of sexual risk behaviour. No association was found between HB and a lacking sexual education during school time. The descriptive analysis revealed further sexual problems within the sample (e.g. feelings of shame and guilt, sexual risk behaviour, sexual dysfunction).

CONCLUSION

Young adults should get more attention as a vulnerable group for the development of hypersexuality in sexual education, prevention and therapy. Regarding to its treatment, HB therefore should be considered together with its associations with sociodemographic information, personality traits, and psychosocial factors.

Self-regulatory Processes in Problematic Pornography Use

Purpose of Review

A core symptom of problematic pornography use (PPU) is the repeated failure to control sexual impulses resulting in pornography use; however, the field of self-regulation research has rarely been applied to PPU.

Recent Findings

Various goals can underly the use of online pornography. These goals can conflict with other self-regulatory goals a person holds, which leads to moments of self-control. The outcome of such self-control moments depends on multiple internal factors, including the strength of the desire to use pornography, whether a person perceives a conflict with their behaviour, and the motivation to resist their desire, as well as external, situational factors. Findings on the contribution of volition towards self-regulation in PPU are inconclusive.

Summary

More research is needed to further explore what influences moments of self-control, specifically in PPU. The proposed model of self-control moments can be used to derive research questions for further studies as well as to develop prevention and intervention approaches.

Changes in substance use and other reinforcing behaviours during the COVID-19 crisis in a general population cohort study of young Swiss men

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There are concerns about the potential impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on substance use (SU) and other reinforcing behaviours (ORB). This paper investigates changes in SU and ORB among young men during the COVID-19 crisis (i.e. March-June 2020).

METHODS

Before and during the COVID-19 crisis, 2,344 young Swiss men completed questionnaires covering SU (i.e. alcohol, cigarettes, illegal cannabis), ORB (i.e. gaming, watching TV series, internet pornography) and sociodemographic and work-related characteristics (i.e. deterioration in the work situation, change in working hours, change in working hours from home, healthcare workers' and other professionals' contacts with potentially infected people, linguistic region, call up to military or civil protection unit, living situation, age).

RESULTS

Latent-change score models showed significant decreases of 17% for drinking volume and frequency of heavy episodic drinking, and a significant increase of 75% for time spent gaming and watching TV series. Subgroups showed greater relative increases. French-speaking participants, those who experienced a deterioration in their work situation and healthcare workers in contact with potentially infected people reported increased cigarette use. Those without children increased gaming, whereas those who worked fewer hours, experienced a deterioration in their work situation or were French-speaking did more gaming and watched more TV series. Those who lived alone or were German-speaking watched more internet pornography.

CONCLUSION

During the COVID-19 crisis, young Swiss men drank less alcohol and spent more time gaming and watching TV series. Changes in SU and ORB were not homogenous in the young Swiss men population.

Associations between Cues of Sexual Desire and Sexual Attitudes in Portuguese Women

Sexuality is defined as a multidimensional experience that involves genital, mental, and bodily components. It is also assumed as a basic condition inherent to the human existence that encourages the search for love, intimacy, sex, and proximity to others. The main objective of this study is to assess the relationship between cues of sexual desire and sexual attitudes in Portuguese women. This is a cross-sectional study with 804 Portuguese women to whom the protocol was applied. It included an informed consent, a sociodemographic questionnaire, a questionnaire related to intimacy, a scale of sexual attitudes, and the scale of cues of sexual desire. The protocol was applied via Google Forms due to the current pandemic situation (COVID-19). Differences were found in sexual attitudes and the cues of sexual desire in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, as well as in terms of women's intimacy. Significant correlations were found between the brief sexual attitudes scale (BSAS) and the cues of sexual desire scale (CSDS). Age, sexual orientation, relation nature, sexual practices, visual proximity cues, erotic explicit cues, and sensory explicit cues explain, altogether, 25% of the total sexual attitudes. Additionally, age, sexual orientation, the relation's nature, sexual practices, visual proximity cues, emotional bonding cues, romantic implicit cues, erotic explicit cues, and sensory explicit cues explain, altogether, 30% of the permissiveness. Sexual attitudes are developed under the influence of sociodemographic variables, variables related to women's intimacy, and cues of sexual desire, which are new data in the study of sexual attitudes and have implications at the level of gender issues.

Sexually Explicit Online Media Use and Sexual Behavior among Sexual Minority Men in Portugal

Introduction: This study aimed to describe sexually explicit online media (SEOM) use among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Portugal and to examine any associations between exposure to SEOM depicting unprotected anal intercourse and engaging in unprotected anal sex. Methods: This study recruited 1577 MSM living in Portugal with Internet access, who ranged in age from 18 to 74 years old (M_age = 35.69, SD_age = 11.16). Participants were recruited via websites, e-mail and social media. 67.3% (n = 1061) of sample participants self-identified as gay, and 32.7% (n = 516) claimed to be bisexual. The survey included four categories of questions/measurements, encompassing demographic information, SEOM use, explicit imagery of protected/unprotected anal sex and sexual behavior. Results: The study results suggest that Portuguese MSM frequently use SEOM and that they possess a stated preference for SEOM displaying unprotected anal sex. Furthermore, this study’s findings indicate that self-identified gay men more frequently engage in unprotected sex than self-identified bisexual men. Finally, the study revealed that a preference for viewing SEOM displaying unprotected sex and higher levels of arousal attributed to direct SEOM exposure are significant predictors of having receptive anal sex without condoms.

Exploring the clinical profile of problematic pornography use

BACKGROUND

Although problematic pornography use (PPU) will soon be diagnosable through the International Classification for Diseases, 11th revision, its clinical profile remains contentious. The current study assessed whether PPU may be characterized by various symptoms sometimes observed among online recovery forums that currently lack empirical assessment, such as heightened cognitive-affective issues following pornography use and sexual dysfunction with partners as a result of escalating use.

METHOD

Cross-sectional surveys were completed by male PPUs (N = 138, mean age = 31.75 years, standard deviation = 10.72) recruited via online recovery communities and Amazon Mechanical Turk. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the Problematic Pornography Use Scale as the dependent variable and variables of interest (Arizona Sexual Experiences Scales modified for partnered sex and pornography use, Brunel Mood Scale, Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, and the Tolerance subscale from the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale) and potential confounders (eg, comorbid psychopathology) as independent variables.

RESULTS

Current levels of pornography use, indicators of tolerance and escalation, greater sexual functioning with pornography, and psychological distress were uniquely associated with PPU severity, while cognitive-affective issues after pornography use, impulsivity and compulsivity were not. Although sexual dysfunction did not predict PPU severity, nearly half the sample indicated sexual dysfunction with intimate partners.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that PPU may be characterized by tolerance and escalation (as per substance addiction models), greater sexual responsivity toward pornography, and psychological distress. Meanwhile, the high rate of partnered sexual dysfunction observed suggests that PPU might be somewhat separable from other forms of compulsive sexual behavior.