The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42555

Michael Reece, PhD, MPH¹, Brian Dodge, MSc², and Sara L. Cole, MA¹. (1) Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER Building 116, 1025 E. Seventh Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-7109, 703-402-9580, mireece@indiana.edu, (2) Department of Applied Health Science, Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention, Indiana University, 801 E. 7th St., Room 100, Bloomington, IN 47405

Objectives: While the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) has demonstrated a high degree of validity among some populations, the utility of the SCS for assessing sexual compulsivity among college-aged adults is unknown. A better understanding of the efficacy of the SCS and the characteristics of behaviors associated with sexual compulsivity will be helpful to mental health professionals working with this population. Methods: Data collected from 594 sexually active college students were analyzed to explore the psychometric properties of the SCS among this population and to assess relations between sexual compulsivity and high-risk sexual behaviors. Results: Moderate levels of internal consistency for the SCS were found among men (alpha=.76) and women (alpha=.81) and coefficients remained consistent with the deletion of any individual scale item. Men scored significantly higher on the scale (X=1.67, SD=.39) than did women (X=1.37, SD=.33) (p<. 01). Higher levels of sexual compulsivity were associated with higher numbers of sexual partners during the past 3 months for men and women, higher rates of participation in unprotected vaginal intercourse for both men and women, and higher use of sexual aids (videos, computer websites, magazines) for masturbation. Conclusions: The SCS has utility for identifying and exploring sexual compulsivity among college students. The development of sexual health oriented clinical interventions for college populations may be enhanced by greater attention to the measurement of, and response to, sexual compulsivity.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe the utility of an instrument for assessing sexual compulsivity among sexually active college students.
• Participants will be able to describe the demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of students classified as sexually compulsive.
• Participants will be able to describe the extent to which sexual compulsivity is associated with high risk sexual behaviors of college students.

Keywords: Mental Health, Sexuality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.