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Sex as a Substitute Addictive Behavior: a Scoping Review

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this scoping review, we examined sex as a substitute addiction for other substance or behavioral addictions, with a particular emphasis on how it has been defined, has presented clinically, the samples and contexts studied, and the methods used. Various types of sexual behaviors were included (e.g., voyeurism, and pornography use).

Recent Findings

Overall, 18 peer-reviewed articles, published between 1954 and 2023, were retained. Across studies, and pathways to recovery, the most salient lines of inquiry appear to concern sex as a substitute among substance use service users, 13th stepping/sexual activity among recovery support group attendees, multi-addictions, pornography as a replacement for substance use (including during the COVID-19 pandemic), and hypersexual disorder in the context of bariatric surgery.

Summary

Further focused research is needed, including the use of qualitative and mixed methods studies, larger representative samples, and more robust study designs.

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Data Availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Deborah L. Sinclair

  2. Departments of Population and Public Health Sciences, Psychology, and School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Steve Sussman

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  1. Deborah L. Sinclair
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Contributions

D.S. and S.S. wrote the main manuscript text and D.S. prepared the tables and figure. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deborah L. Sinclair.

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Sinclair, D.L., Sussman, S. Sex as a Substitute Addictive Behavior: a Scoping Review. Curr Sex Health Rep 16, 1–11 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-023-00378-7

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