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Dissertation Information for Bilesha Perera

NAME:
- Bilesha Perera

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Health Sciences

SCHOOL:
- Illinois State University (USA) (2005)

ADVISORS:
- Robert Billingham Sr.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Peter Finn
- Michael Reece
- Patrick Monahan

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Not_Inspected

Title: Compulsive relationships to sexuality among undergraduates: Understanding the concept and behavioral correlates

Abstract: The problem of this study was to examine etiological, personal and socio-ecological correlates of dispositions toward out-of-control sexual behaviors of college students, and to investigate cognitive and behavioral impact of sexual behaviors of the respondents.

A cross sectional survey on a sample of 539 university undergraduates in a large Mid-western university was conducted using a self-report, anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of several scales, including the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, the Sexual Sensational Seeking Scale, Eysenck's Impulsivity Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, and modified versions of the Family Environment Scale and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. In addition, two scales based on a set of six criteria--social, legal, financial/occupational, physical, emotional and spiritual--published by the National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (NCSAC) (2004), were developed to measure the cognitive and behavioral impact of sexual practices of college students. Sexual Compulsivity (SC) and Sexual Sensation Seeking (SSS), two personal dispositions that are associated with high-risk sex, were used in this study. Pearson and Spearman correlation, chi-square statistic, ANOVA, multiple-regression and structural equation modeling were used to analyze data.

Results indicate that the prevalence of non-monogamous relationships was higher among men compared to women. Men reported higher mean scores on SC and SSS. Stimulant drug use was positively associated with SC, while alcohol use and mood altering drug use were positively associated with SSS. Frequency of sexual practices and number of sexual partners were positively associated with SC and SSS scores. There was also a strong positive association between SC and SSS.

Compared to SSS, SC had a much stronger relationship with childhood sexual abuse and poor childhood family environment. A positive relationship was found between SC scores and negative cognitive and behavioral impact of sexual practices of college students. Such a notable relationship, however, was not found between SSS and negative cognitive and behavioral impact of these sexual practices. Furthermore, SC and depressive symptoms were found to have direct effect with negative cognitive impact of sexual practices, and SC and impulsivity were found to have direct effect with negative behavioral impact of sexual practices of these college students.

These results suggest that gender- and personal disposition-specific strategies that take into consideration NCSAC's six criteria framework, related to cognitive and behavioral impact of out-of-control sexual behaviors, may yield better results in programs targeted at reducing adverse consequences of sexual behaviors of college students. Further research, however, is needed in this area. Additionally, co-occurrence of uncontrolled behaviors of college students warrants further investigations.

MPACT Scores for Bilesha Perera

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2010-10-05 12:10:19

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