Robert E. Billingham

Childhood Characteristics and Personal Dispositions to Sexually Compulsive Behavior Among Young Adults

This study explored possible associations between two personal tendencies “sexual compulsivity” and “sexual sensation seeking,” and self-esteem, family environmental conditions and sexual abuse experiences during childhood in a sample of 539 young adults in a mid-western university. A cross-sectional survey design was employed and data were collected using self-report, anonymous questionnaires. Men scored higher on the measures of sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking than women. Mean scores on the measure of sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking in this young adult college sample were lower when compared with high risk groups such as men living with HIV. Sex abuse experiences and poor family environment during childhood were associated with sexual sensation seeking and sexual compulsive tendencies. Neither sexual compulsivity nor sexual sensation seeking was associated with childhood self-esteem. Further, the results of this study suggest that sexual compulsive behavior compared to sexual sensation seeking, has much stronger connection with childhood etiological factors investigated in this study. Thus, as suggested by other sex researchers, those who are challenged by compulsive behaviors may need long-term treatment, but sensation seekers could possibly be effectively treated with short-term behavioral interventions. Causal relationships between childhood etiological factors and out-of-control behaviors, and subsequent risky sexual behaviors, as well as their implications for health promotion programs targeted at young adults, need to be investigated using longitudinal and qualitative research methods.

Reasons given by college students for drinking : a discriminant analysis investigation

Based on self-reported levels of alcohol consumption, 473 college students (295 female and 178 male) were placed into at-risk or not-at-risk groups. Using reasons given for drinking as the independent variables, discriminant analysis procedures were conducted separately on the males and females to determine if a function could be found which would discriminate between the groups. For the female group, 11 of 22 reasons defined a discriminant function which accounted for 36% of the variance between the groups (p < .001). This function was also able to correctly classify 71% of the holdout sample. For the males, five of the 22 reasons defined a discriminant function which accounted for 36% of the variance between the groups (p < .001). This function was able to correctly classify 69% of the holdout sample.

Premarital contraceptive use: a discriminant analysis approach.

The ability of seven independent variables to predict accurately, from a sample of unmarried, sexually active students, which ones use reliable contraceptives and which ones use unreliable contraceptives, was investigated. Using discriminant analysis, the seven independent variables were age individuals started engaging in coitus, frequency of coitus, frequency of dating, length of time sex partners knew each other, number of sex partners, having anticipated coitus to occur, and the number of close friends who were thought to use birth control. The results indicated that these variables were accurate in predicting which students were users of contraceptives, with more than 80% of males and females being correctly classified. The number of close friends thought to use contraceptives was the most influential variable for both sexes, followed by length of time the partners knew each other.

DATING VIOLENCE AT THREE TIME PERIODS : 1976, 1992, AND 1996

Data collected over the past 10 years were used to investigate whether there have been changes in the incidence of violence when dating reported at a large university. Responses to Strauss 1979 Conflict Tactics Scale in 1986 (n = 603), 1992 (n = 414), and 1996 (n = 571) were compared. Analyzes indicated that there has been a reduction in both verbal aggression and violence scores over the 10-yr. period. In addition, the percentage of respondents who reported being in nonviolent relationships increased while the percentage of respondents in the three categories of relationship that include violence (mutual, perpetrator, and victim) decreased. These findings indicate that there may be an over-all reduction in both verbal aggression and violence between dating partners as they attempt to resolve conflicts.

Relations Between Substance Use and Personal Dispositions Towards Out-of-Control Sexual Behaviors Among Young Adults

ABSTRACT This paper examines the extent of associations between the two personal dispositions “sexual sensation seeking” and “sexual compulsivity,” and use of alcohol and stimulants in a sample of 539 young adults. Men scored higher on measures of sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking than women. Stimulant drug use was associated with a high level of sexually compulsive behaviors. Strong positive associations were also found between sexual sensation seeking and alcohol use, and stimulant drug use was also nearly significantly associated with sexual sensation seeking. Relationships between addictive behaviors, and their implications for health promotion programs targeted at college students need to be investigated using longitudinal and qualitative research methods.

The effect of chronological and theoretical birth order on sexual attitudes and behaviors

A survey designed to evaluate the impact that both chronological and theoretical birth order may have on sexual attitudes and behaviors was completed by 441 respondents (221 male, 220 female). The attitudes and behaviors investigated were aggressive sexual behavior, social relationship attitudes, emotional relationship attitudes, total heterosexual behavior, and total orgasmic behavior. The data revealed no difference between male and female in terms of total sexual behavior. However, males had significantly higher sexual aggression, social attitudes, emotional attitudes, and total orgasm scores. These results suggest that while there may be equity between the sexes in terms of heterosexual behavior, there are still significant differences between the sexes in terms of specific behaviors and attitudes. No differences were found on any of the scales based on either chronological or theoretical birth order. These results suggest that sexual behavior and attitudes may be influenced to a greater degree by biological and cohort factors than by sibling position.