Repeat gonorrhea infections, sexual addiction and impulsivity in women

Background: In adolescent African American women repeat gonorrhea infections are associated with impulsivity, but personality measures are seldom used in sexually transmitted infection studies of adults. The objective of this study was to identify personality variables that act as predictors of repeat gonorrhea infections in a sample of adult women. Methods: Women completed several personality measures on sexual compulsivity, impulsivity, and sexual addiction and provided demographic and sexual risk behavior information. Information on gonorrhea infection was elicited by both self-report of the number of times participants had been told they had gonorrhea by a health care provider and urine laboratory test results. Results: 360 women completed the instruments and 45% of the sample was African American, 32% was White and 15% was Latina. Mean age was 38 years (SD=11.57). Total number of self-reported gonorrhea infections ranged from 0-10 and was significantly and positively correlated with total sexual addiction scores (r = .39, p < .0001). Least squares regression predicting total number of self-reported gonorrhea infections found that sexual addiction scores and impulsivity as measured by the Eysenck Impulsivity Scale (EIS) were positive predictors and non-sexual sensation-seeking scores as measured by the Kalichman scale were negatively associated. Total variance accounted for by the regression model (R-squared) in predicting total number of gonorrhea infections was 38.7%. Conclusions: Repeat gonorrhea infections are associated with sexual addiction, non-sexual sensation-seeking, and impulsivity in women. Personality measures should be included with behavioral risk assessments for screening women at high-risk of repeat gonorrhea infections.