The interrelationship of sex guilt, sex behavior, and age in an adult sample

Abstract

Sexual guilt is defined as a generalized expectancy for self-mediated punishment for violating or anticipating violating internalized standards of proper sexual conduct. Previous studies have focused on the relationship between sexual guilt and sexual behavior in college students. The relationship has been shown to be inverse and quite strong. The present study employed a sample of males, ages 27 to 73. The instruments used were the Sexual Guilt Subscale of the Mosher Forced Choice Guilt Scale and the Bentler Heterosexual Behavior Assessment Scale. As in prior studies, it was found that there was a significant inverse correlation between sexual guilt and sexual behavior. In addition, there was found to be an inverse correlation between sexual behavior and age. A significant positive correlation was found between sexual guilt and age. When age was held constant, it was found that there was a highly significant inverse correlation between sexual guilt and sexual behavior. This factoring out of age clarifies the relationship between these variables. The clinician should be aware that the age of a patient may not be a factor in his/her sexual behavior.