Sexual compulsivity, sexual self-concept, and cognitive outcomes of sexual behavior of young Chinese Hong Kong males with compulsive sexual behavior: Implications for intervention and prevention

Abstract

Today's youth are becoming increasingly susceptible to engaging in compulsive sexual behavior (CSB), which can disrupt one's daily and social functioning. Given that a person's sexual self-concept serves to regulate sexual cognitions and behaviors, it is necessary to study CSB in relation to the sexual self-concept. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the mediating effects of five specific dimensions of the sexual self-concept on the relationship between CSB and the cognitive outcomes of sexual behavior. From a sample of 144 young Chinese males with CSB in Hong Kong, the results of the study indicate that CSB was significantly associated with the cognitive outcomes of sexual behavior, as well as sexual consciousness, self-blame for sexual problems, and sexual depression among young males with CSB. Moreover, when the effect of sexual compulsivity was controlled, sexual consciousness, self-blame for sexual problems, and sexual depression were all significantly associated with the cognitive outcomes of sexual behavior. However, the results of the mediation analyses suggest that only self-blame for sexual problems and sexual depression mediate the relationship between sexual compulsivity and the cognitive outcomes of sexual behavior. These results have tremendous implications for the practice and development of interventions and educational programs, suggesting that practitioners must be aware of the role of negative self-perception and emotion in sexuality in order to develop effective services and programs for youth with CSB.