title: Sexual compulsion--relationship with sex, attachment and sexual orientation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sexual addiction, also known as hypersexual disorder, is associated with serious psychosocial problems for many people.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used questionnaires to investigate the effects of gender, sexual orientation and attachment (avoidance and anxiety) on sexual compulsion among 100 heterosexual and homosexual men and women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A positive correlation was found between anxious attachment and sexual compulsivity (r =0.46; p < 0.01) and a positive correlation between avoidant attachment and sexual compulsivity (r = 0.39; p £ 0.01) in all participants. Secondly, an analysis of covariance showed a gender by sexual orientation interaction effect [F(1,103) = 6.39, p < 0.01] but no attachment effect on sexual compulsivity. A follow-up comparison showed that lesbian women had higher rates of sexual compulsivity than heterosexual women [t(2, 50) = 5.08, p < 0.001] whereas there was non-significant difference in sexual compulsivity between homosexual and heterosexual men [t(2, 50) = 1.30,p = N.S.].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide preliminary evidence for an association between attachment and sexual compulsivity and the effects of gender and sexual orientation on sexual compulsivity.
authors: University of Ariel, Science Park Department of Behavioral Science 40700 Ariel Israel.
authors: Aviv
authors: A
authors: Weinstein
authors: University of Ariel, Science Park Department of Behavioral Science 40700 Ariel Israel.
authors: Lichen
authors: L
authors: Katz
authors: University of Ariel, Science Park Department of Behavioral Science 40700 Ariel Israel.
authors: Hila
authors: H
authors: Eberhardt
authors: University of Ariel, Science Park Department of Behavioral Science 40700 Ariel Israel.
authors: Koby
authors: K
authors: Cohen
authors: Paris 7 University and Hospital Bichat Claude Bernard, AP-HP and Maison Blanche Hospital Department of Psychiatry Paris France.
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Lejoyeux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: attachment; homosexuality; sex differences; sexual compulsivity