Hypersexuality: Univocal or Equivocal Nature?

Many theories have been generated to explain hypersexuality, which has been defined as “recurrent and intense sexual fantasies, sexual urges or sexual behaviors” (Kafka, 2010). Measures of the construct vary widely in the behaviors and fantasies they assess, but little research has examined the core nature of the construct or the relation among the various impulsivity scales purported to measure it. In the present study, a Qualtrics administered survey examined the relation among the various aspects of hypersexuality. The survey explored the structure of hypersexuality and help to determine whether it constitutes a univocal construct or comprises multiple related components. Principle axis factor analysis yielded a two factors structure for hypersexuality. Dysregulated sexuality was found to be related to negative emotions and affective dysregulation. These findings suggest that hypersexuality could comprise various subtypes. The differentiation of different possible subtypes and exploration of the underlying mechanisms would enrich the research in this field.