P101. Sexual Trauma, impulsiveness and compulsive sexual behavior among Israeli adolescents

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

The study examined the relationships between sexual trauma, impulsivity, and compulsive sexual behavior among adolescents in Israel, a topic that has not yet been explored in a non-clinical adolescent population. The research focused on the impact of childhood (up to age 13) and adolescent (ages 14 and above) sexual trauma on the development of compulsive sexual behavior, while assessing the role of impulsivity as a mediating factor.

A total of 228 adolescents aged 14–17 from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds participated in the quantitative study. Data were collected using three questionnaires from the International Sex Survey (ISS), which assesses sexual behaviors and psychological characteristics.

The findings confirming a positive association between sexual trauma and the development of compulsive sexual behavior among adolescents. However, the hypothesis, which examined impulsivity as a mediating factor in this relationship, was not supported.

The study’s conclusions and implications for the field of criminology highlight the importance of early identification of sexual trauma victims among adolescents as a high-risk group for developing compulsive sexual behavior. The findings indicate the need for tailored prevention and intervention programs that address the link between sexual trauma and problematic sexual behaviors.

The research underscores the necessity of a comprehensive therapeutic approach that considers the long-term effects of sexual trauma on the development of problematic sexual behavior patterns. Additionally, the finding that impulsivity does not serve as a mediating factor emphasizes the need for further research to identify other mediating variables and highlights the complexity of the relationship between sexual trauma and compulsive sexual behavior. This finding underscores the importance of developing treatment interventions specifically designed to address sexual trauma and its consequences, rather than focusing solely on impulse control.

Author

• Gadi Rozenberg, Ashkelon academic college