The Sacred, the Sinful, and the Shamed: The Association Between Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Moral Disapproval, and Sexual Shame Among Jewish Religious Adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) has recently been recognized as a possible disorder (CSBD) by the World Health Organization (ICD-11) and may affect a significant portion of adolescents. Yet the relationship between CSB, religious values, and sexual shame remains underexplored in this population. This study investigated how CSB, moral disapproval, and sexual shame intersect among Orthodox Jewish adolescents. Methods: Drawing on a sample of 1,050 adolescents (63% boys and 37% girls, Mage = 17.39, SD = 1.36), the study examined the role of moral disapproval, which arises when sexual behaviors conflict with religious beliefs, in amplifying sexual shame. Results: CSB was positively correlated with moral disapproval (particularly of masturbation, pornography, and non-pornographic sexual content) and with sexual shame, suggesting a potential reinforcing cycle between religious guilt and compulsive sexual behaviors. Network analysis revealed that more religious adolescents experienced distinct clusters of moral disapproval, with masturbation emerging as a central concern. Conclusions: Findings suggested that adolescents in religious communities might face heightened sexual shame due to the internal conflict between their sexual behaviors and religious ideals, emphasizing the importance of addressing both moral disapproval and CSB in therapeutic and educational settings. By fostering open dialogue around these topics, interventions can help mitigate shame and promote healthier sexual development within religious contexts.