Services and information for sexually compulsive students on college counseling center websites: results from a national sample.
One factor that may prevent a small but significant percentage of college students from achieving sexual health is sexual compulsivity, a problem of sexual control that is associated with a number of negative health outcomes, including high HIV risk behavior. In this study we content analyzed a randomly selected stratified national sample of 203 4-year U.S. colleges' counseling center websites to assess the degree to which such sites feature information and reference services for sexually compulsive students. Results revealed that sexual compulsivity communications were rare, especially in comparison with communications for other mental health issues. For instance, less than 5% of counseling centers spoke of individual counseling opportunities for students struggling with sexual compulsivity, while between 60% and 80% of counseling centers advertised their capacity to provide individual counseling for students struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, depression, stress/anxiety, and pathological eating. Possible explanations for the paucity of sexual compulsivity messages are discussed.
Wright
Paul J
PJ
Department of Communication, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. pwright@email.arizona.edu
McKinley
Christopher J
CJ
D003192:Compulsive Behavior; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities