PARAPHILIC-LIKE BEHAVIORS AND THEIR RELATION TO DISTRESS AND RELIGIOSITY

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore whether the relationship between ‘paraphilic-like’ sexual behaviors—sexual behaviors that might be deemed unusual or taboo in Western culture—and self-reported distress depends on level of religiosity. A sample of students from the University of Hawaii at Manoa were recruited to participate in an online survey. Results revealed that, consistent with the main hypothesis, religiosity served as a significant moderator when examining the relationship between sexual behaviors (both arousal by paraphilic-like behaviors and frequency of participation in these behaviors) and self-reported distress when thinking about oneself participating in these behaviors. Overall, sexual behaviors predicted distress to a greater degree for people who were higher (vs. lower) in religiosity. These results fill in some of the lack of literature about the prevalence of paraphilias and paraphilic-like thoughts and behaviors, as well as potentially suggesting future directions for research and clinical treatment planning.