How men and women differ in concerns about addictive sexual behaviors

A recent study published in Sexual Health & Compulsivity has found that over 7% of Americans report concerns about sexual behaviors they describe as addictive. Notably, the researchers discovered that men, younger people, and sexual minorities are more likely to express such worries.

The concept of compulsive sexual behavior, recognized as Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) in the most recent edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), refers to difficulty controlling sexual behaviors despite personal or social consequences, causing significant distress. However, the diagnosis remains controversial due to cultural influences, societal norms, and uncertainties about which behaviors people find problematic and why.

To address these gaps, a research team led by Joshua B. Grubbs from the University of New Mexico surveyed a representative sample of over 2,800 U.S. adults, with an average age of 49 years. Participants were asked if they felt their sexual behaviors were out of control or addictive and were prompted to identify specific behaviors causing concern. The study also examined the influence of demographic factors, including gender, sexual orientation, age, and religiousness.

The results highlighted significant gender differences, with 11.8% of men endorsing worries about addiction compared to 3.4% of women. Men were more likely to report solitary behaviors, such as masturbation and pornography use, as sources of concern.

In contrast, women more often identified partnered sexual behaviors, including frequent casual sexual encounters, as troubling. This aligns with broader patterns in sexual behavior, where men generally report greater engagement in solitary activities, while partnered behaviors are more common focal points for women experiencing CSB-related distress.

Younger individuals also reported higher rates of concern, suggesting that generational or cultural factors might influence perceptions of sexual behavior. Sexual minorities, particularly gay and bisexual men, were more likely to report concerns than their heterosexual counterparts, pointing to potential differences in societal or personal expectations around sexual activity.

Religiousness emerged as another key factor. Participants with strong religious beliefs were more likely to view masturbation as a problematic behavior but less likely to see casual sexual encounters as concerning. This aligns with previous studies demonstrating that religious individuals often interpret solitary sexual behaviors as morally troubling, even when those behaviors are not objectively harmful.

Another key finding was the distinction participants made between feeling their behaviors were “addictive” versus “out of control.” Two-thirds of those expressing concerns identified with one term but not the other, suggesting variability in how individuals interpret and frame their experiences.

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Men, particularly heterosexual men, were more likely to use the term “addiction,” which may reflect cultural norms around masculinity and the framing of sexual behavior. This distinction highlights the complexity of CSB and the need for nuanced approaches to understanding and addressing these concerns.

While these findings provide important insights, the researchers caution that self-reported concerns do not necessarily indicate a clinical diagnosis. Additionally, the cross-sectional design limits conclusions about cause and effect.

“These results demonstrate a heterogeneity of behaviors among individuals with concerns about compulsive sexual behavior, while also pointing to the importance of sociodemographic factors in increasing the relative odds that individuals might experience concerns about compulsive sexual behavior and the behaviors they experience those concerns about,” the authors concluded.

The study, “What is the ‘Sex’ in Sex Addiction? Problem Behaviors Reported Among Those Endorsing Compulsive Sexual Behavior,” was authored by Joshua B. Grubbs, Brinna Lee, Christopher G. Floyd, Beata Bőthe, Todd Jennings, and Shane W. Kraus.