Date of Conferral

5-12-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Magy Martin

Abstract

Problematic sexuality among college students is a complex and understudied issue, particularly regarding gender-based differences in affective instability and sexual compulsivity. While prior research has focused mainly on male populations, limited evidence exists about how these factors manifest among female students or whether gender moderates these relationships. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study is to examine whether gender moderates the relationship between factors affecting sexual compulsivity as measured by the Multidimensional Inventory of Development, Sex, and Aggression (MIDSA). The MIDSA, originally developed for male sexual offenders, has since been administered to both male and female populations. Findings from hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that gender did not moderate the relationship between affective instability and problematic sexuality, as the interaction terms were not significant (F(3, 716) = 0.404, p = .750). However, gender did moderate the relationship between sexual compulsivity and problematic sexuality (F(1, 722) = 5.307, p = .022). Precisely, a one-unit increase in sexual compulsivity corresponded to a more significant increase in problematic sexuality among males (B = 0.228, p < .001) compared to females (B = 0.189, p = .001). Supplementary independent t-tests further indicated that males exhibited significantly higher levels of sexual compulsivity, lack of empathy, conning and superficial charm, and problematic sexuality compared to females (p < .001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in lack of perspective taking (p = .366).

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