The Prevalence of Domestic Violence in the Lives of Female Heterosexual Partners of Sex Addicts

Violence Against Women. 2023 Dec;29(15-16):3263-3287. doi: 10.1177/10778012231199111. Epub 2023 Sep 12.

Abstract

This study provides evidence that rates of domestic violence (DV) run considerably higher in the lives of heterosexual women who identify as partners of sex addicts (PSAs) than in the general population. Data collected from 558 survey participants, from a variety of high-income nations, revealed that 92.1% had ever experienced any form of DV perpetrated by their partner and 57.7% had experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence with their partner. The study also tests several hypotheses about sex addiction behaviors and PSA intimate partner violence (IPV), to help those working with these populations understand what factors may be contributing to, or mitigating, these women's experiences of violence.

Keywords: domestic violence; intimate partner violence; partner of sex addict; problematic pornography use; sex addiction.

MeSH terms

  • Domestic Violence*
  • Female
  • Heterosexuality
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Partners