Gender-Related Differences in Associations Between Sexual Abuse and Hypersexuality

Abstract

Background

Individuals with histories of sexual abuse may be more likely to experience sexual-related problems including hypersexuality, but gender-related differences remain unclear.

Aim

This online study examined sexual abuse history and hypersexuality by gender among 16,823 Hungarian adults, adjusting for age, sexual orientation, relationship status, education, employment status, and residence.

Methods

An online questionnaire on one of the largest Hungarian news portals advertised this study examining sexual activities in January 2017. 3 categorizations of age-related sexual abuse were examined: child sexual abuse (CSA) occurring at age 13 and earlier (compared to no abuse), adolescent/adult sexual abuse (AASA; compared to no abuse), and CSA and AASA (CSA/AASA; compared to one age-related category of abuse or the other).

Outcomes

The outcome variable, hypersexuality, was examined as a continuous variable due to the low prevalence of clinical hypersexuality in this sample. 3 multivariate linear regression analyses adjusting for covariates aimed to predict hypersexuality from each category of abuse, along with gender and its interaction with each category.

Results

In all models, younger age, non-heterosexual sexual orientation, male gender, single relationship status, less than full-time work, and living in a capital city were associated with hypersexuality, and education was not a significant predictor. CSA, AASA, and CSA/AASA predicted hypersexuality in both men and women. There was a significant interaction between CSA/AASA and gender, such that the relationship between CSA/AASA and hypersexuality was stronger in men than in women.

Clinical Translation

Sexual abuse at each developmental time-point may influence hypersexuality among men and women, although the cumulative impact of CSA and AASA on hypersexuality may be particularly relevant among men.

Strengths & Limitations

This is one of the largest studies to examine gender-related differences in the relationship between sexual abuse and hypersexuality. Nevertheless, our study is cross-sectional, and longitudinal work is needed to determine how sexual abuse affects children, adolescents, and adults throughout their lives.

Conclusion

Developmental impacts of sexual abuse may be considered in a gender-informed fashion in order to develop and optimize effective prevention and treatment strategies for hypersexuality.

Hypersexuality, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Adolescent/Adult Sexual Abuse, Gender, Victimization, Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder

© International Society for Sexual Medicine 2020