Compulsive sexual behavior is a phenomenon characterized by a persistent failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges, resulting in repetitive sexual behavior that causes marked distress or impairment in personal, familial, social, educational, or occupational areas of functioning. Despite its major impact on mental health and quality of life, little is known about its internal structure and whether this phenomenon differs across genders, age groups, and risk status. By considering a large online sample (n = 3186; 68.3% males), ranging from 14 to 64 years old, compulsive sexual behavior was explored by means of network analysis. State-of-the-art analytical techniques were adopted to investigate the pattern of association among the different elements of compulsive sexual behavior, identify possible communities of nodes, pinpoint the most central nodes, and detect differences between males and females, among different age groups, as well as between individuals at low and high risk of developing a full-blown disorder. The analyses revealed that the network was characterized by three communities, namely Consequence, Preoccupation, and Perceived Dyscontrol, and that the most central node was related to (perceived) impulse dyscontrol. No substantial differences were found between males and females and across age. Failing to meet one’s own commitments and responsibilities was more central in individuals at high risk of developing a full-blown disorder than in those at low risk.

强迫性性行为是一种现象，其特征是持续无法控制强烈的、重复的性冲动或性冲动，导致重复的性行为导致个人、家庭、社会、教育或职业功能领域的明显痛苦或损害。尽管它对心理健康和生活质量有重大影响，但对其内部结构以及这种现象是否因性别、年龄组和风险状况而异，知之甚少。通过考虑 14 至 64 岁的大型在线样本（n = 3186；68.3% 男性），通过网络分析探索了强迫性行为。采用最先进的分析技术来调查强迫性行为的不同要素之间的关联模式，确定可能的节点社区，查明最中心的节点，并检测男性和女性之间、不同年龄组之间以及发展为全面疾病的低风险和高风险个体之间的差异。分析表明，该网络具有三个社区的特征，即后果、全神贯注和感知失控，并且最中心的节点与（感知的）冲动失控有关。男性和女性之间以及不同年龄之间没有发现实质性差异。与低风险人群相比，未能履行自己的承诺和责任在发展成全面疾病的高风险人群中更为重要。分析表明，该网络具有三个社区的特征，即后果、全神贯注和感知失控，并且最中心的节点与（感知的）冲动失控有关。男性和女性之间以及不同年龄之间没有发现实质性差异。与低风险人群相比，未能履行自己的承诺和责任在发展成全面疾病的高风险人群中更为重要。分析表明，该网络具有三个社区的特征，即后果、全神贯注和感知失控，并且最中心的节点与（感知的）冲动失控有关。男性和女性之间以及不同年龄之间没有发现实质性差异。与低风险人群相比，未能履行自己的承诺和责任在发展成全面疾病的高风险人群中更为重要。