Self-esteem And Mood as Predictors of Sexual Compulsivity in Gay Men

Several authors have examined sexual compulsivity, but few empirical studies have explored etiological determinants for this behavior in gay men.  Therefore, 261 gay men completed a five-part questionnaire concerning sexual behavior, mood and self-concept. Multiple regression analyses revealed low self-esteem, anxiety and depression to be predictive of compulsive sexual behavior.  Subjects who felt doubtful of their moral worth, undesirable, lacking in confidence, dissatisfied with religion, and dissatisfied with family relationships reported more sexually compulsive behavior. Adjunctively, six gay men who self-identified as sexually compulsive were interviewed.  Interviewees' revealed histories of low self-esteem, dysphoric moods, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, difficult family relationships, polysubstance abuse, and high-risk sexual behavior. In this presentation, the author will incorporate a brief review of quantitative findings, then devote the majority of the presentation to main themes which emerged from the interviews.  Several interviewee's histories will be presented in a brief case-study format in order to elucidate and compare these themes within a biographical context.