Sexual Addiction and Associated Factors: The Role of Emotion Dysregulation, Impulsivity, Anxiety and Depression

Emotional Intelligence and Behavioural Addictions: A Systematic Review

Background: The role of emotional intelligence on the experience of behavioural addictions is a growing area of research interest. However, there are operationalisation issues in studying both emotional intelligence and behavioural addictions separately. This review aims to report on the existing literature of studies exploring the relationship between these two concepts, and to identify gaps in research practice in order to inform future studies. Methods: A search, covering the date range of 2013-2024, conducted in five databases in August 2024 identified 43 articles, reported according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The findings are discussed under four subheadings: technology-related behavioural addiction, internet gaming disorder, eating disorders, and consumer behaviour and compulsive buying. Results: Overall, the results show that emotional intelligence is negatively correlated with behavioural addictions and plays both a moderating and mediating role in the associations between behavioural addictions and other negative outcomes such as suicidal ideation, rumination, fear of missing out, and depression. Conclusions: In addition to summarising studies and controversial discussions on emotional intelligence and behavioural addictions, this review suggests possible roadmaps to ensure more accurate research outcomes by highlighting the importance of theoretical and methodological distinctions between trait and ability models of emotional intelligence.

The German version of the Bergen Yale Sex Addiction Scale (BYSAS): psychometric properties and initial steps of validation

OBJECTIVES

This study presents the German version of the Bergen Yale Sex Addiction Scale (BYSAS). The questionnaire screens for different risk levels of problematic excessive sexual behavior ("hypersexuality").

METHODS

Based on an online sample (N = 492), a confirmatory factor analysis as well as other reliability analysis were conducted. Demographic characteristics of the sample were also assessed. The BYSAS was validated with psychiatric symptoms.

RESULTS

Global fit statistics indicate a one-factorial structure of the BYSAS. Cronbach's α was 0.77. 2.03% of the study participants were categorized as "high risk" regarding sex addiction.

DISCUSSION

Initial results suggest that the German version of the BYSAS is a promising screening instrument for sex addiction. However, further validation in clinical populations is essential to ensure generalizability and clinical utility. In addition, different risk levels as well as the mechanisms underlying hypersexuality need to be examined more closely.

Adult ADHD Diagnosis, Symptoms of Impulsivity, and Emotional Dysregulation in a Clinical Sample of Outpatients Consulting for a Behavioral Addiction

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate ADHD in adult outpatients seeking treatment for a behavioral addiction and to identify the specificity of psychopathological features if the behavioral addiction cooccurs with adult ADHD.

METHOD

Sixty-five outpatients consulting for a behavioral addiction were assessed for ADHD (DIVA-5), addictive disorder (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, gaming, food, and sex), impulsivity (UPPS-P), and emotion dysregulation (DERS-36).

RESULTS

In our sample of outpatients seeking treatment for a behavioral addiction, adult ADHD was independently associated with higher compulsive sexual behavior disorder severity, "sensation seeking," "positive urgency," difficulties in "goal-directed behavior," "impulse control," and use of "emotion regulation strategies" in the context of intense emotions. A 19% of the sample was diagnosed for adult ADHD.

CONCLUSION

The association of adult ADHD with specific dimensions of impulsivity and emotion dysregulation, pave the way for future clinical and research perspectives.

Time Goes Back-Time Perspective in Polish Men with Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder and Risky Sexual Behavior

Many relationships between time perspective and a propensity to engage in risky behaviors or developing addictions have been demonstrated. The aim of our study was to determine the differences in intensity of individual time perspectives in people with compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and risky sexual behavior (RSB). The analysis includes 425 men: 98 CSBD (age M = 37.99 years), 63 RSB (age M = 35.70 years), 264 without CSBD and RSB features constituting the control group (age M = 35.08 years). We used the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, the Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised, the Risky Sexual Behavior Scale and a self-constructed survey. The comparative analysis showed a higher intensity of past-negative (p = 0.040), a lower of past-positive (p < 0.001) and a present-fatalistic (p = 0.040) outlook in the CSBD group compared to the control group. Compared to the participants with RSB, the CSBD group was characterized by a higher intensity of past-negative (p = 0.010), a lower of past-positive (p = 0.004) and a present-hedonistic perspective (p = 0.014). The RSB group also achieved higher results from the present-hedonistic perspective (p = 0.046) compared to the control group. The CSBD patients indicate a stronger tendency to focus on negative past compared to non-CSBD men, both taking and not taking RSB. The time perspective profiles of RSB men are similar to those who do not engage in RSB. The distinguishing feature of men with RSB without CSBD is a greater ability to enjoy current experiences.

The Effect of COVID-19 Perceived Risk on Internet Addiction among College Students in China: An Empirical Study Based on the Structural Equation Model

This study focused on COVID-19 perceived risk and Internet addiction among Chinese college students during the lockdown. On the basis of the Social Cognitive Theory, this study proposed a mediating model to evaluate the mediating role of difficulties in regulating emotion between the COVID-19 perceived risk and Internet addiction. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 690 college students during the COVID-19 lockdown in China. The results showed that the COVID-19 perceived risk was significantly positively associated with Internet addiction (r = 0.236, p < 0.001) and difficulties in emotion regulation (r = 0.220, p < 0.001), difficulties in emotion regulation was significantly positively associated with Internet addiction (r = 0.368, p < 0.001). The COVID-19 perceived risk had a significant and positive predictive effect on Internet addiction (β = 0.233, p < 0.001) among Chinese college students. The analysis of the mediation model showed that difficulties in emotion regulation partially mediated the relationship between COVID-19 perceived risk and Internet addiction (indirect effect value was 0.051 with 95% Confidence Interval ranging from 0.027 to 0.085). The findings not only enhanced our understanding of the internal influence mechanism of COVID-19 perceived risk on Internet addiction but also provided a practical basis for college education works. Finally, discussions and suggestions were provided on the basis of the results.

Present hedonism and future time perspectives predicting hypersexuality and problematic pornography use

The Time Perspective (TP) theory (i.e., the psychological experience regarding time) was often examined in association with different addictive behaviors, and the different TPs (i.e., Past Positive, Past Negative, Present Hedonistic, Present Fatalistic, and Future TPs) demonstrated different relationship patterns with them. However, most studies were conducted in relation to substance use-related disorders, leaving crucial knowledge gaps concerning the associations between TPs and potential behavioral addictions. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between the five TP dimensions, hypersexuality, and problematic pornography use (PPU), considering potential gender differences. Participants from two independent samples (N₁ = 554; N₂ = 453) completed a self-report survey on TPs and sexual behaviors. Structural equation modeling results indicated that the Present Hedonistic TP had a positive, moderate, and the Future TP had a negative, weak association with hypersexuality in both samples. Only the Present Hedonistic TP had a significant, positive, weak-to-moderate association with PPU across the samples. The explained variances of the models were higher in case of hypersexuality (28 and 27%, respectively), than in case of PPU (1 and 14%, respectively). No significant gender differences were observed. In line with previous findings concerning other predictors of hypersexuality and PPU, the results of the present study suggest that hypersexuality and PPU may differ from each other in terms of their TP background. Yet, present hedonism, which is related to impulsivity, may play an important role in both problematic sexual behaviors, suggesting that interventions focusing on this TP might be successful in reducing hypersexuality and PPU.

Co-occurrence of Adult ADHD Symptoms and Problematic Internet Use and Its Links With Impulsivity, Emotion Regulation, Anxiety, and Depression

The co-occurrence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and problematic Internet use (PIU) is associated with increased severity of PIU and poorer treatment outcomes. The main objective of this study was to examine the association between PIU and adult ADHD symptoms and determine whether adult ADHD symptoms were a predictor of PIU in the general adult population. We also examined the potential mediating role of the dimensional psychopathological factors, including anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and emotion regulation, in this relationship. To achieve these aims, we recruited 532 regular Internet users online from the general adult population. The participants completed an online questionnaire assessing PIU (Internet Addiction Test), anxiety and depression symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), adult ADHD symptoms (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1), emotion regulation (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), and impulsivity (UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale). We conducted a multiple regression analysis to determine the predictors of PIU and mediation analyses to identify the psychopathological mediators of the association between adult ADHD symptoms and PIU. PIU was observed in 17.9% of our sample. A significantly higher proportion of respondents with PIU screened positive for adult ADHD symptoms compared to respondents without PIU (50.5 vs. 21.7%; p < 0.001). Individuals with PIU reported significantly higher scores than those without PIU for anxiety and depressive symptoms, impulsivity, and the emotion regulation strategy of expressive suppression. Additionally, they had significantly lower scores than those without PIU on cognitive reappraisal than non-problematic Internet users. In addition to adult ADHD symptoms, the multiple regression analysis revealed that PIU was also positively predicted by depressive symptoms, positive urgency, lack of perseverance, and expressive suppression, and is negatively predicted by cognitive reappraisal and negative urgency. The mediation analysis showed that lack of perseverance, positive urgency, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were partial mediators of the relationship between adult ADHD symptoms and PIU. Our results highlight the significant co-occurrence of PIU and adult ADHD symptoms. This study also provides support for a theoretical model in which impulsivity dimensions, emotion regulation strategies, as well as the tendency to anxiety and depressive symptoms, may play a mediating role in this co-occurrence. In summary, the findings emphasize the need to assess these psychological characteristics in problematic Internet users, as they can be a factor of clinical complexity, as well as the importance of targeting them as part of integrated interventions for both adult ADHD symptoms and PIU.