OSA
Online sexual activity is the "use of internet for any activity (text, audio, and graphics) that involves sexuality. This includes recreation, entertainment, exploration, support around sexual concerns, education, purchasing sexual materials, trying to find sexual partners, and so on" (Cooper, Delmonico, Griffin-Shelley, and Mathy, 2004). In contrast, offline sexual activities are described as "typically differentiated in terms of whether they are arousal oriented and whether they are solitary or involve a partner" (Shaughnessy, Byers, and Wals, 2011).
Reasons for Use
There are many reasons why individuals choose to participant in online sexual activity. Researchers have identified a variety of these reasons as being for fantasy fulfillment, coping with stress, recreational use, educational, socialization, distraction, meeting dates, meeting for sex, engaging in sexual activities not done in real time, getting support for sexual concerns, purchasing sexual materials, and so on. It has been shown that there are different types of users that engage in online sexual activities. The different categories have users are recreational users, sexually compulsive users, "at-risk" users, and fantasy type users (Cooper et al., 2004).
Gender Differences
Studies have shown that there are apparent differences when it comes to gender and online sexual activity and experience. Researchers have broken down OSA's into three separate categories in order to further explain these differences. Non-arousal, solitary-arousal, or partnered-arousal make up the three categories used by researchers to give detail in differences amongst males and females, These categories were completed measures of OSA experience, sexual attitudes, and sexual experiences. Non-arousal activities are identified as seeking sexual information, solitary-arousal activities are known as viewing sexually explicit videos, and partnered-arousal activities are described as maintaining a sexual partner online (Shaughnessy, Byers, and Walsh, 2011).
Impacts of Use
Positives:
While many people view online sexual activities as having a negative impact, research has shown that there are potential positive outcomes that can result from a user engaging in online sexual activities. The majority of online sexual activity has in fact shown to not be problematic. Studies have shown that online sexual fantasies can be used to help in many ways such as relaxing and relieving stress. In addition, it can also be used as an outlet for exploration purposes and recreational use. Many users have claimed that online sexual activity has allowed them to meet others online and form relationships (Cooper et al., 2004).
Negatives:
Online sexual activity has been proven to have a largely negative impact on many users offline lives. 56% of users reported that online sexual activity was a distraction in their daily lives and routines. Almost 10% found that online sexual activity had a disruptive impact and their thoughts, and that they couldn't control them (Cooper et al., 2004). Nearly 15% of users indicated that their online sexual activity use increased significantly over time, and therefore began to consume more of their time. In addition, almost 10% of users claimed that they viewed their online sexual activity as a problem. Over slightly 9% of users said they felt like their online sexual activity use was out of control while 14% reported that others complained about their active use, and 10% felt like they were addicted to the combination of the internet and sex (Cooper et al., 2004).
Treatment
While many studies have proven that engaging in online sexual activities can have little to no negative effect on their daily lives and routines, it is apparent that there are individuals who struggle with its use. Studies have shown that the use of sexual activities on the internet can result in the individual gaining dependence symptoms. In order to develop strategies and methods for treating compulsive online sexual behavior depends on the assessment of the problem itself. Characteristics that are unique to the internet itself can be used as a mechanism in an effort to reduce the power it has to engage in online sexual activity, as well as a way to create treatment options (Putnam, 2000).
Online sexual activity is the "use of internet for any activity (text, audio, and graphics) that involves sexuality. This includes recreation, entertainment, exploration, support around sexual concerns, education, purchasing sexual materials, trying to find sexual partners, and so on" (Cooper, Delmonico, Griffin-Shelley, and Mathy, 2004). In contrast, offline sexual activities are described as "typically differentiated in terms of whether they are arousal oriented and whether they are solitary or involve a partner" (Shaughnessy, Byers, and Wals, 2011).
Reasons for Use
There are many reasons why individuals choose to participant in online sexual activity. Researchers have identified a variety of these reasons as being for fantasy fulfillment, coping with stress, recreational use, educational, socialization, distraction, meeting dates, meeting for sex, engaging in sexual activities not done in real time, getting support for sexual concerns, purchasing sexual materials, and so on. It has been shown that there are different types of users that engage in online sexual activities. The different categories have users are recreational users, sexually compulsive users, "at-risk" users, and fantasy type users (Cooper et al., 2004).
Gender Differences
Studies have shown that there are apparent differences when it comes to gender and online sexual activity and experience. Researchers have broken down OSA's into three separate categories in order to further explain these differences. Non-arousal, solitary-arousal, or partnered-arousal make up the three categories used by researchers to give detail in differences amongst males and females, These categories were completed measures of OSA experience, sexual attitudes, and sexual experiences. Non-arousal activities are identified as seeking sexual information, solitary-arousal activities are known as viewing sexually explicit videos, and partnered-arousal activities are described as maintaining a sexual partner online (Shaughnessy, Byers, and Walsh, 2011).
Impacts of Use
Positives:
While many people view online sexual activities as having a negative impact, research has shown that there are potential positive outcomes that can result from a user engaging in online sexual activities. The majority of online sexual activity has in fact shown to not be problematic. Studies have shown that online sexual fantasies can be used to help in many ways such as relaxing and relieving stress. In addition, it can also be used as an outlet for exploration purposes and recreational use. Many users have claimed that online sexual activity has allowed them to meet others online and form relationships (Cooper et al., 2004).
Negatives:
Online sexual activity has been proven to have a largely negative impact on many users offline lives. 56% of users reported that online sexual activity was a distraction in their daily lives and routines. Almost 10% found that online sexual activity had a disruptive impact and their thoughts, and that they couldn't control them (Cooper et al., 2004). Nearly 15% of users indicated that their online sexual activity use increased significantly over time, and therefore began to consume more of their time. In addition, almost 10% of users claimed that they viewed their online sexual activity as a problem. Over slightly 9% of users said they felt like their online sexual activity use was out of control while 14% reported that others complained about their active use, and 10% felt like they were addicted to the combination of the internet and sex (Cooper et al., 2004).
Treatment
While many studies have proven that engaging in online sexual activities can have little to no negative effect on their daily lives and routines, it is apparent that there are individuals who struggle with its use. Studies have shown that the use of sexual activities on the internet can result in the individual gaining dependence symptoms. In order to develop strategies and methods for treating compulsive online sexual behavior depends on the assessment of the problem itself. Characteristics that are unique to the internet itself can be used as a mechanism in an effort to reduce the power it has to engage in online sexual activity, as well as a way to create treatment options (Putnam, 2000).