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Feature Article Feature Article Cybersex Use and Abuse: Implications for Health Education Delores Dorton Rimington and Julie Gast ABSTRACT The Internet is increasingly used as an outlet for sexual activity. This literature review explores key definitions, perceived benefits, risks, and consequences of engaging in cybersex, as well as its influence on youth and young adults. The accessibility, affordability, and anonymity of the Internet make it highly appealing to users. Increasing time spent online for sexual activity may lead to cybersex abuse and compulsive cybersex behavior. This poses a threat to relationships, work, and educational pursuits. Chatrooms are especially prominent as a slippery slope to more extreme sexual behaviors. Characteristics of cybersex users do not seem to be divided by subgroups such as gender, sexual orientation, and marital status. There are only limited amounts of research on youth and online sexual activity, but some research suggests that adolescents are engaging in cybersex. Moreover, college students appear to be at particular risk for developing cybersex compulsive behaviors. Increased health education about the dangers of potential cybersex addiction and abuse is needed. In addition, health educators need to add cybersex to their curricula to warn users of potential addiction. THE WIDESPREAD INFLUENCE ever, cybersex becomes a social concern prevention of cybersex addiction. Currently, OF THE INTERNET when individuals spend so much time most health educators do not address the In a world where everything from bank- online that they neglect their relationships, issue of cybersex in their classrooms, nor ing and shopping to education and match- work, school, or other obligations.4 In re- do they arm their students or community making can be found online, it is little cent years pornography viewing among with information about the potential dan- wonder that the United States Department Americans dramatically increased, largely gers associated with engaging in online of Commerce found that 51% of all U.S. due to increased access to the Internet.5 sexual behavior. Considering that cybersex households had access to the Internet.1 With the invention of the Internet, the pur- may pose a threat to current and subsequent Access to the Internet poses several concerns suit of sexual stimuli has become more ac- relationships, the absence of this type of for mental health professionals. Increased cessible, affordable, and anonymous.2,3,6 As education is significant.8 The purpose of access in individuals’ homes adds a new of the year 2000, it was estimated that 20 this literature review is to: dimension to health and psychological is- million people visited sexually themed Web 1. Explore the key terms of cybersex. sues when combined with sexually oriented sites monthly. This number continues to behaviors.2 The speed, availability, and increase, with sex being the number one convenience of the Internet, in combina- searched topic on the Internet.5 It is not Delores Dorton Rimington is a Master’s of Sci- tion with sexually oriented material, create surprising that cybersex addiction is on the ence candidate, Department of Health, Physi- the potential for the “next sexual rise,5 and college students appear to be at a cal Education, and Recreation, Utah State revolution.”3(p519) particular risk for cybersex abuse.7 University, Logan, Utah 84322-7000. Julie Just as not all users of alcohol become A review of the literature shows that Gast, PhD, is associate professor with the alcoholics, most cybersex participants do there is much information about cybersex, Department of HPER, Utah State University, not experience compulsive problems; how- but that little research is available on the 7000 Old Main Hill, Logan, Ut 84322-7000. 34 American Journal of Health Education — January/February 2007, Volume 38, No. 1 Delores Dorton Rimington and Julie Gast 2. Investigate the roles of marital status, tivities that may include: looking at pictures, to achieve this flow experience. Flow is ob- gender, and sexual orientation in cybersex engaging in sexual chat, exchange of sexual tained through a ritualized experience of behavior. emails, and “cybering,” where both parties surfing for the “perfect pick.” For example, 3. Identify perceived benefits, risks, and masturbate while exchanging sexual chat Philaretou, Mahfouz, and Allen found that consequences for individuals who engage in online.2 cybersex participants reported searching cybersex. Other definitions of cybersex include until they found the image or movie that 4. Investigate the influence of cybersex this from Schneider given in 2000 and 2004: was just what they wanted and then mas- on youth and college students. “any form of sexual expression that is ac- turbated to that specific image.16 Money 5. Identify the role of cybersex education cessed through a computer.”11,12(p208) In 2004, defined the construct of a “lovemap” as a for health educators. Cooper and colleagues defined cybersex as cognitive and emotional schema that pro- “using the…Internet to engage in sexually vides a map or outline for the individual’s EXPLORING KEY TERMS gratifying activities.”2(p131) This latter defi- preferred sexual relations and actions.17 Sex Addiction nition narrows the former from any sexual This behavior may exist both offline (e.g., The existence of sex addiction is still expression on a computer, to sexually ori- phone sex) and online (e.g., chatrooms). debated among health care professionals. ented Internet use only. Another definition, When online, the individual customizes his Some believe that behaviors such as gam- given in 2004, described cybersex as “engag- or her perfect pick instead of searching bling, eating, or sex are not in themselves ing in sexual self-stimulation while online offline in clubs for someone who fits their 13(p1002) addictive but they are manifestations of with another person,” which is simi- ideal. Once the perfect pick is found, satis- 2 other underlying issues. Yet, the term ad- lar to “cybering.” This interaction could be faction is short-lived and the user then diction has been used to describe any form exchanging sexual e-mail, chatrooms, in- searches for a variation on the theme. For of self-destruction.9 Carnes defined addic- stant messaging, or Web cameras. Finally, the user there is always something more and tion as a “pathological relationship with a cybersex was defined in 2005 as “two or he or she is never satisfied.16 mood-altering substance or behavior.”10(p14) more people engaging in simulated sex Under this definition, drugs as well as any talk while online for the purposes of sex- CHARACTERISTICS mood-altering behavior would apply. When ual pleasure and may or may not include OF CYBERSEX PARTICIPANTS sexual behavior is used as a coping device, masturbation by one or more of the Characteristics of individuals involved in it is used to alter one’s mood. Compulsive participants.”14(p132) Clearly there exists a lack online sexual activities differ widely, but sexual behavior has been documented to of agreement in the literature regarding a there are trends. For example, users must alter brain function in a way similar to il- universal definition of cybersex. This dis- have access to the Internet, and most access licit drug exposure.9 Additionally, research- crepancy may lead to confusion and creates it at home. However, in a study of online ers documented that there can be a “high” challenges in planning and implementing sexual behavior, Cooper, Delmonico, and produced through sexual behavior similar cybersex abuse prevention programs. For Burg reported that 6 out of 100 employees to that of crack cocaine.11 The use of the example, one program may focus on the reported accessing sexual material at work.7 Internet for sex, or cybersex, to escape and Internet while another may focus preven- This included individuals meeting the cri- alter one’s mood fits into this category and tion efforts on pornographic CD Rom pur- teria for sexually compulsive behavior as is becoming more prevalent in cases of chases. For the purpose of this review, well as those with no sexual compulsions. sexual addiction as it is heretofore defined.11 cybersex will be defined as sexual expres- Who Engages in Cybersex? What is Cybersex? sions or interactions accessed through a Marital Status and Cybersex. In one Cybersex definitions have many varia- computer. study, researchers found that unmarried tions. Some researchers differentiate online Defining the Flow Experience individuals were overrepresented among sexual activity (OSA) from cybersex. OSA Cybersex abuse, as with other potentially those addicted to cybersex.7 Unmarried in- is defined as the “use of the Internet for any addictive behaviors, initially begins with dividuals may be more likely to report activity (text, audio, graphics) that involves reinforcement. For cybersex abuse this re- cybersex compulsive behaviors because they sexuality. This includes recreation, enter- inforcement is sexual gratification and re- may be searching for dating relationships. tainment, exploration, support around lease of tension.15 Sexual gratification is Ross, Masson, Daneback, and Tikkanen sur- sexual concerns, education, purchasing achieved though the flow experience.16,17 veyed men concerning their online sexual sexual materials, [and searching for] sexual Flow theory posits that one becomes so ab- behavior and found that 42.7% were in a partners.”2(p131) Cybersex has been defined sorbed in their online behavior that they committed relationship (i.e., married, or as a subcategory of OSA and occurs when lose track of time and of themselves, becom- co-habiting) while 54.7% were not.3 Thus, individuals use the Internet to engage in ing oblivious to all around them.18 An indi- both married and single individuals engage sexual expression or sexually gratifying ac- vidual engaging in cybersex often has a goal in cybersex. American Journal of Health Education — January/February 2007, Volume 38, No. 1 35 Delores Dorton Rimington and Julie Gast Gender and Cybersex.
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