Cybersex use and problematic cybersex use among young Swiss men: Associations with sociodemographic, sexual, and psychological factors

Joseph Studer; Simon Marmet; Matthias Wicki; Gerhard Gmel

doi:10.1556/2006.8.2019.69

Cybersex use and problematic cybersex use among young Swiss men: Associations with sociodemographic, sexual, and psychological factors

J Behav Addict. 2019 Dec 1;8(4):794-803. doi: 10.1556/2006.8.2019.69. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Authors

Joseph Studer¹, Simon Marmet¹, Matthias Wicki¹, Gerhard Gmel^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry,Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne,Switzerland.
² Research Department,Addiction Switzerland, Lausanne,Switzerland.
³ Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Ontario,Canada.
⁴ Department of Health and Social Sciences,University of the West of England, Bristol,UK.

Abstract

Background and aims: Cybersex use (CU) is highly prevalent in Switzerland's population, particularly among young men. CU may have negative consequences if it gets out of control. This study estimated prevalence of CU, frequency of CU (FCU), and problematic CU (PCU) and their correlates.

Methods: A non-selective sample of young Swiss men (N = 5,332, mean age = 25.45) completed a questionnaire assessing FCU and PCU, sociodemographics (age, linguistic region, and education), sexuality (being in a relationship, number of sexual partners, and sexual orientation), dysfunctional coping (denial, self-distraction, behavioral disengagement, and self-blame), and personality traits (aggression/hostility, sociability, anxiety/neuroticism, and sensation seeking). Associations were tested using hurdle and negative binomial regression models.

Results: At least monthly CU was reported by 78.6% of participants. CU was associated positively with post-secondary schooling (vs. primary schooling), German-speaking (vs. French-speaking), homosexuality, bisexuality (vs. heterosexuality), more than one sexual partner (vs. one), dysfunctional coping (except denial), and all personality traits except sociability, but negatively with being in a relationship (vs. not), age, and sociability. FCU was associated positively with homosexuality, bisexuality, no or more than one sexual partner, dysfunctional coping (except denial), and all personality traits except sociability, but negatively with age, being in a relationship, and sociability. PCU was associated positively with bisexuality, four or more sexual partners, dysfunctional coping, and all personality traits except sociability, but negatively with German-speaking and sociability.

Discussion and conclusions: CU should be viewed in light of its associations with sociodemographic, sexual, and psychological factors. Healthcare professionals should consider these aspects to adapt their interventions to patients' needs.

Keywords: Cohort Study on Substance-Use Risk Factors; coping; cybersex; personality; sexuality; sociodemographics.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Adult
Behavior, Addictive / epidemiology*
Cohort Studies
Humans
Internet*
Male
Personality*
Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
Sexuality / statistics & numerical data*
Switzerland / epidemiology
Young Adult

Grant support

Funding sources: This study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF; Grants FN 33CSC0_122679, FN 33CS30_139467, and FN 33CS30_148493).