Attachment Styles and Male Sex Addiction
Open accessAbstract
This study addresses the adult romantic attachment styles of sexually addicted men. The Sexual Addiction Screening Test and the Experiences in Close Relationships Revised were used to determine the presence of a sexual addiction and the participants' style of romantic attachment. ANOVA revealed that sexually addicted men are more likely to relate with insecure attachment styles. Specifically, sexually addicted men were found to have higher anxiety F(1, 38) = 6.122, p < .05 and avoidance F(1, 37) = 4.685, p < .05 in their romantic relationships. Treatment for male sexual addicts should address both addiction and relationship insecurity.
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SA can inhibit healthy attachments between intimate partners.
“According to Zapf et al. (2008), SA can inhibit healthy attachments between intimate partners.”
From The Lived Experiences and Well-Being of Female Partners Following Discovery or Disclosure of Their Male Partner’s Compulsive Sexual Behaviours: An Australian Phenomenological Study (2025) · cites this paper as Zapf et al., 2008
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“According to Zapf et al. (2008), SA can inhibit healthy attachments between intimate partners.”
- Authors
- Zapf, J. L., Greiner, J., & Carroll, J.
- Affiliations
- Pathways Christian Counseling
- Walden University (US)
- ORCID
- Carroll, James
- Venue
- Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-05-09
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 158-175
- ISSN
- 1072-0162 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-5318
- OpenAlex
- W2018527196
- Semantic Scholar
- 60fe8d961d143cadf7aeeccd1c55c530d711230e
- Cited by
- 123
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 4.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity The Journal of Treatment and Prevention (publishedVersion)
- ScholarWorks (Walden University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Keywords
- sexual addiction, attachment styles, insecure attachment, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, romantic relationships, relationship insecurity, Experiences in Close Relationships
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