Date of Award

Summer 8-2014

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Bradley Green

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Tammy Barry

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Randy Arnau

Committee Member 3 Department

Psychology

Abstract

The current study examined associations between insecure adult romantic attachment and symptoms of psychopathology, disordered personality, and problematic sexual behaviors in a clinical sample of 402 men in treatment for sexual addiction. Anxious and avoidant attachment were hypothesized to correlate with certain constructs of psychopathology, disordered personality, and dimensions of problematic sexual behaviors. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the hypothesized relationships using data from scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory- 2-Revised Form (MMPI-2-RF), the Sexual Dependence Inventory – 4.0 (SDI – 4.0), and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R). Results suggested greater similarities than expected across higher-order constructs of psychopathology and problematic sexual behaviors among our sample of insecurely attached sex addicts. Findings suggest that individuals with insecure attachment may present quite similarly; however, certain unique differences were present at the more narrow and specific level of symptomology. Results may be used to create psychopathology and sexual behavior profiles for anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions. The clinical implications in terms of assessment, treatment, and prevention are discussed, as well as theoretical implications in terms of the transdiagnostic model.

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