The Role of Attachment, Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Gender in Men and Women with Compulsive Sexual Behavior Symptoms

Abstract

Objectives: Research on the association of childhood traumatic experiences and attachment styles with symptoms of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) so far showed inhomogeneous results. This study aims to investigate the associations of these factors and their interaction with gender. Methods: Within a cross-sectional study design, we collected a German convenience sample (n = 154, 73.4% women) online and tested the association of attachment style (Experiences in Close Relationships Revised, ECR-R), childhood traumatic experiences (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, CTQ), gender as predictor variables and CSBD symptoms (CSBD-19) as outcome in a linear regression analysis. Results: Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with CSBD symptoms in both genders. Women, but not men, who reported more pronounced childhood traumatic experiences, especially for the subscale of physical neglect in childhood, also reported more severe CSBD symptoms. Conclusions: The results have implications for psychotherapy with individuals presenting with CSBD symptoms.