Online Sex Addiction After 50: an Exploratory Study of Age-Related Vulnerability

AbstractThe population of Internet users is ageing, yet online sex addiction research remains limited to younger age groups. Our study aimed to explore the association between online sex addiction and vulnerabilities related to older age, such as the absence of a partner, changes in work career, and boredom. Out of 2518 respondents who participated in an online survey, 158 (6.3%) were aged 50 –77 and constituted the primary focus of the study. Linear regression analyses showed that occupational status, boredom (reasons for Internet use), and involvement in cybersex predicted online sex addiction, and that relationship status and offline sex had no effect on addictive behaviour. There w as no evidence for a moderating effect from the occupational status on the relationship between boredom and online sex addiction. The results suggest that older age does not protect against the development of online sex addiction, and age-related vulnerability may amplify the risks.
Source: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - Category: Addiction Source Type: research