Revisiting the Role of Impulsivity and Compulsivity in Problematic Sexual Behaviors
- Authors
- Bőthe, B., Tóth-Király, I., Potenza, M. N., Griffiths, M. D., Orosz, G., & Demetrovics, Z.
- Year
- 2019
- Journal
- The Journal of Sex Research
- Type
- Cross-sectional study
- Last verified
- 2026-10-04
Main question
Is problematic sexual behaviour driven more by impulsivity or compulsivity?
Summary
Bőthe and colleagues (2019) examined whether impulsivity or compulsivity better characterizes problematic sexual behaviour. Across a large sample, compulsivity showed the stronger association, challenging purely impulsivity-based explanations.
Why it matters
This finding bears directly on how we talk about impulse control and compulsive sexual behaviour: the experience may be less about sudden impulsive action and more about repeated, hard-to-stop patterns.
Findings
- In a large non-clinical sample, compulsivity was more strongly associated with problematic sexual behaviors than impulsivity.
- Challenges accounts that frame problematic sexual behaviour primarily in terms of impulsivity.
Limitations
- Cross-sectional design; cannot establish direction of effects.
- Non-clinical convenience sample; findings may differ in treatment-seeking populations.
- verification needed (DOI/PMID not recorded)
Clinical relevance
Suggests treatment may need to target compulsivity, not just impulsivity.
Relevance to problematic pornography use
Shifts the explanatory emphasis toward compulsivity.