1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The overall goal of this study was to examine CSA [child sexual abuse] severity as a potential long-term risk factor for ESI [extradyadic sexual involvement] in women and men. The first aim was to use structural equation modeling (SEM) to test a mediation model whereby the relationship between CSA severity and ESI is explained through sexual compulsivity. The second aim was to test a gender moderation hypothesis within the proposed mediation model.» (p. 616)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«[W]e hypothesized that CSA severity would be associated with higher sexual compulsivity, which in turn would lead to an increased probability of ESI (hypothesis 1); and that the association among CSA, sexual compulsivity, and ESI would be stronger for men than for women (hypothesis 2).» (p. 616)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«[T]he final sample comprised 669 French-speaking Canadians aged between 18 and 77 years old […] and included 77.9% (n = 521) women and 22.1% (n = 148) men. Within this sample, 14.6% (n = 98) were married, 51.4% (n = 344) were unmarried and living with their partners, and 33.9% (n = 227) reported being in a dating relationship and living separately.» (p. 616)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«The results of the present study clearly show that although ESI might be an existential decision rooted in moment-to-moment personal choices and experiences, it is also linked to early sexual trauma. In addition, as the frequency and the intrusiveness of sexual abuse is higher, and as the closeness of family ties to the aggressor is stronger, the risk of ESI increases. Thus, the severity of these sexual contacts predicts negative adult sexual outcomes […]. The prevalence of ESI within a current relationship was 32% and 57% for female and male survivors, respectively— rates that are more than twice as high as those observed in nonvictims. […] The current results indicate that a history of CSA increases the risk of ESI in a similar manner in men and women, directly and through higher sexual compulsivity. […] CSA was found in the present study to be associated with adult sexual compulsions and behaviors that, in turn, predicted ESI. In this regard, CSA appears to affect extradyadic involvement directly, as well as indirectly through sexual compulsivity. These data also indicate that individuals reporting more severe CSA report higher sexual compulsivity, both of which increased the likelihood of infidelity.» (p. 621)