Authors: MISSILDINE, WHITNEY¹; FELDSTEIN, GIDEON¹; PUNZALAN, JOSEPH¹; PARSONS, JEFFREY²

Source: Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, Volume 12, Number 1, January-March 2005 , pp. 65-74(10)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Research generally shows that men are more oriented towards sexual behavior and women more oriented towards romance or emotional aspects of sex. In addition, there is an assumed theoretical link between the desire and pursuit of short-term relationships and sexual activity and the desire and pursuit of long-term, commitment oriented relationships and romantic motivation. Our research tested how these assumptions hold for gender differences among lesbians and gay men. We tested these differences using measures of romantic obsession and sexual compulsivity, representing extreme forms of motivation for romance and motivations for sexual behavior. Gay men reported significantly greater symptoms of sexual compulsivity compared to lesbians. However, contrary to our expectations, gay men reported significantly greater symptoms of romantic obsession than lesbians. Sexual compulsivity and romantic obsession were significantly correlated. The study also discusses gender differences in relationship type and number of sexual partners, two factors often cited in research on gender differences.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10720160590933662

Affiliations: 1: Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training, New York, New York, USA 2: Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, USA

Publication date: 2005-01-01

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