Oversexualization among emerging adults: Preliminary associations with romantic attachment and intimacy.

ANXIETY; ATTACHMENT behavior; AVOIDANCE (Psychology); PERSONAL beauty; BODY image; EMOTIONS; INTIMACY (Psychology); INVESTMENTS; SENSORY perception; QUESTIONNAIRES; REGRESSION analysis; HUMAN sexuality; SEX distribution; SOCIAL attitudes; ATTITUDES toward sex

This study examined romantic attachment and intimacy as correlates of oversexualized behaviours and attitudes among emerging adults. A sample of 587 participants (494 women, 93 men) aged between 18 and 29 completed a series of online questionnaires assessing oversexualization, romantic attachment, and intimacy. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to explore the associations between these variables and examine the moderating role of sex. Results revealed that attachment-related anxiety was associated with overinvestment in sexual appearance, sexual objectification, and performance-based sexuality. This last association was stronger for men than for women. Attachment-related avoidance was associated with seduction and lower meaningfulness of sexuality. In addition, while sexualized language was related to a better perception of emotional, social, sexual, and recreational intimacy, meaningfulness of sexuality was positively related to all dimensions of intimacy. Conversely, sexual objectification was related to lower recreational intimacy, seductive attitude was related to lower emotional intimacy, and overinvestment in one's sexualized appearance was related to lower sexual intimacy. For men only, overinvestment in sexualized appearance was also related to higher perceived social intimacy Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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