title: Avoidant and compulsive sexual behaviors in male and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
abstract: The main objectives of this study were to test a theory-based mediation model in which the relation between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and dyadic adjustment is mediated through adult sexual avoidance and sexual compulsivity and to examine the gender-invariance of this model. A sample of 686 adults currently involved in a close relationship completed online self-report computerized questionnaires. Prevalence of CSA was 20% in women and 19% in men. In line with our hypotheses, path analyses and structural equation analyses showed that, for both women and men, CSA was associated with more sexual avoidance and sexual compulsivity, which, in turn, predicted lower couple adjustment. Overall, these findings suggest that both avoidant and compulsive sexuality are relevant intervention targets with couples in which one or both partners are CSA survivors.
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, École de psychologie, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Marie-Pier
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vaillancourt-Morel
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec à Montréal, Département de sexologie, 455 René-Levesque Est, local W-R165, Montréal, QC, Canada H2L 4Y2.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Godbout
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, École de psychologie, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Chloé
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Labadie
authors.affiliation: University of Victoria, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 2050, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P5.
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Runtz
authors.affiliation: Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières, Département de psychologie, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5H7.
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lussier
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, École de psychologie, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, QC, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabourin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childhood sexual abuse; Dyadic adjustment; Sexual avoidance; Sexual behaviors; Sexual compulsivity