Evaluation of Behavior Subtypes of Sexual Addiction

124 Pages·2016·2.21 MB·English

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Dissertations
Summer 8-2013
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Nicole Lea Blazek
University of Southern Mississippi
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Blazek, Nicole Lea, "Evaluation of Behavior Subtypes of Sexual Addiction: A Latent Profile Analysis of
Sexual Behaviors" (2013). Dissertations. 161.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/161
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The University of Southern Mississippi

EVALUATION OF BEHAVIORAL SUBTYPES OF SEXUAL ADDICTION:
A LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL BEHAVIORS
by

Nicole Lea Blazek

A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Approved:

Randolph C. Arnau, Ph.D.
.

Bradley A. Green, Ph.D.

Tammy Barry, Ph.D.

Richard Mohn, Ph.D.

Susan A. Siltanen
..

August 2013
The University of Southern Mississippi

EVALUATION OF BEHAVIORAL SUBTYPES OF SEXUAL ADDICTION:
A LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL BEHAVIORS
by

Nicole Lea Blazek

Abstract of a Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

August 2013
ABSTRACT
EVALUATION OF BEHAVIORAL SUBTYPES OF SEXUAL ADDICTION:
A LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL BEHAVIORS
by Nicole Lea Blazek
August 2013
Sexual addiction has been characterized as out of control sexual behavior that
leads to decreased functioning and negative consequences in a number of areas (Kafka,
2010). The current study aimed to demonstrate whether or not homogenous classes of
individuals presenting for treatment and diagnosed with sexual addiction could be
identified utilizing a person-centered approach, Latent Profile Analysis, using sexual
behavior frequency scales from the Sexual Dependency Inventory-4.0 (SDI-4.0; Green,
Arnau, & Carnes, 2013) as indicators. After identifying the distinct subclasses of sexual
behaviors, the study examined the nature of the groups through an analysis of external
correlates of group membership. Specific external correlates that were examined included
personality and psychopathology traits measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegan, 2008).
The current study identified five latent classes of men presenting for treatment of sexual
addiction based upon their sexual behaviors using Latent Profile Analysis. These classes
could be described as one that engaged in below average levels of sexually addictive
behaviors, one that engaged in humiliation, domination and pain exchange behaviors,
another that reported average levels of sexual addiction behaviors, a fourth that reported
the use of drugs, exhibitionism and anonymous sexual behaviors and a final class of
individuals who used money and power to support their sexual behaviors. Participants in
the current study shared a number of presenting concerns including engaging in
ii
compulsive sexual behaviors, being distressed about their actions and experiencing
consequences related to their addiction. These similarities suggested these individuals’
presenting concerns may be best accounted for by shared phenomenon, such as a
diagnosis of sexual addiction. However, the results of the current study also indicated that
these classes differed in terms of personality traits, psychopathology, demographic
variables and the types and number of consequences related to their sexually addictive
behaviors. Therefore, careful assessment and treatment planning should be conducted in
order to address these differences and to develop the most effective treatment
interventions.

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COPYRIGHT BY
NICOLE LEA BLAZEK
2013
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank my dissertation committee chair and mentor, Dr. Randolph
Arnau, without whom this manuscript would never have been possible. His patience,
dedication and own brand of wit helped me persevere and stay sane throughout the
process. A special thanks to Dr. Bradley Green whose dedication to the database used for
the analyses is greatly appreciated. His hard work and venerable devotion to numerous
research projects never ceases to amaze. To Dr. Tammy Barry I am especially grateful as
she stepped in right when I needed her without pause. She never hesitates to take on a
project and help others and has always been an inspiration for the type of researcher and
professional I aspire to become. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Richard Mohn for
being willing to participate on my committee and for his advice about statistical
procedures. This work was supported, in part, by Grant #2012-50 from the American
Foundation for Addiction Research to Dr. Patrick Carnes and by a grant from the
University of Minnesota Press to Randolph C. Arnau and Bradley A. Green.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................................................................... viii
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................1
Conceptualizations of Excessive Sexual Behaviors
Assessment of Sexual Addiction
DSM-IV and DSM-5 Conceptualization of Sexual Acting Out
Personality and Psychopathology Correlates of Sexual Addiction
MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF and Sexual Addiction
The Current Study

II. METHOD .....................................................................................................24 Participants
Participants
Instruments
Procedures

III. RESULTS ....................................................................................................33
Latent Profile Analysis
Differences in SDI-4.0 Behavior Scale Means for the Five Class Model
External Validation of Classes

IV. DISCUSSION ..............................................................................................69
Class Makeup Based upon Sexual Behaviors
Differences Between the Classes on External Variables
Implications from the Current Study for Sexual Addiction
Conceptualizations and Diagnoses
Implications for Assessment of Sexual Addiction
Sexual Addiction Treatment Implications
Limitations and Future Research
Conclusions

v
APPENDIXES .................................................................................................................100
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................107

vi
LIST OF TABLES

Table
1. Goodness of Fit for SDI-4.0 Behavior Scale Models Based on Different Number
of Classes ...............................................................................................................34

2. Mean SDI-4.0 Behavior Scale T-Scores and ANOVA results for Five Class Latent
Profile Model ........................................................................................................46

3. Mean MMPI-2-RF Higher-Order Scale scores and ANOVA results for Five Class
Latent Profile Model ..............................................................................................53

4. Mean Restructured Clinical Scale Scores and ANOVA results for Five Class
Latent Profile Model ..............................................................................................55

5. Mean Somatic/Cognitive Scale Scores and ANOVA results for Five Class Latent
Profile Model .........................................................................................................58

6. Mean Internalizing Scale Scores and ANOVA results for Five Class Latent
Profile Model .........................................................................................................59

7. Mean Externalizing and Interpersonal Scale Scores and ANOVA results for Five
Class Latent Profile Model ....................................................................................62

8. Mean Psychopathology-Five Scale Scores and ANOVA results for Five Class
Latent Profile Model ..............................................................................................65

9. Mean Consequences Experienced due to Sexual Behaviors Total Scores and
ANOVA results for Five Class Latent Profile Model ............................................68

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