The Effect of Early Life Trauma on Compulsive Sexual Behavior among Members of a 12-Step Group

Introduction: Early life trauma is at the core of many psychopathologies, including compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). The intermediate processes linking early life trauma and CSB have been less well studied.

Aims: To investigate whether impulsiveness, internalizing symptoms, sensation-seeking, and self-criticism mediate the links between early life trauma and CSB.

Methods: The sample comprised 65 Sexaholics Anonymous members and 47 healthy volunteers who completed self-report measures assessing CSB, early life trauma, and the mediating variables.

Main outcomes measures: The main outcome measures were severity of CSB symptoms, impulsiveness, internalizing symptoms, sensation-seeking, self-criticism, and early life trauma.

Results: The analysis indicated that the total effect of early life trauma on CSB was significant, with more prevalent and severe trauma relating to higher CSB. The analysis also revealed that this effect was significantly mediated by 3 mediation paths-greater sensation-seeking, internalizing symptoms, and self-criticism-and that these measures in turn were associated with higher CSB.

Conclusion: Our findings provide an opportunity for researchers to gain a better insight into the effect of early life trauma on CSB. Efrati Y, Gola M. The Effect of Early Life Trauma on Compulsive Sexual Behavior among Members of a 12-Step Group. J Sex Med 2019;16:803-811.