Abstracts

Innovations in Clinical Sexology

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Dr. Tempany Andersen

Abstract
Unveiling the Hidden Struggle: A Grounded Theory Exploration of Sex Addiction in Married Orthodox Jewish Males

Sex addiction within Orthodox Jewish communities remains underexplored, despite growing clinical awareness of its emotional and relational impacts. I conducted a qualitative grounded theory study to investigate how cultural, religious, and psychological factors contribute to the development and maintenance of sex addiction among married Orthodox Jewish men. Understanding these dynamics is essential for improving culturally responsive treatment and reducing stigma in religious settings. I collected data through semi-structured interviews with 8 adult participants, recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Grounded theory methodology guided open, axial, and selective coding to support theory generation. Findings is supporting the development of the Shame-Regulation Cycle, a theoretical model illustrating how unresolved trauma, moral conflict, secrecy, and emotional avoidance drive compulsive sexual behavior. Participants described sex not as a source of pleasure, but to regulate distress. Shame emerged as both a trigger and product of the behavior, reinforcing a feedback loop that deepened emotional isolation and obstructed recovery. Results indicate that therapeutic approaches must move beyond behavior management to address the underlying emotional and spiritual conflicts shaping addiction. Interventions should integrate emotional regulation therapies with cultural fluency and linguistic accessibility, particularly for Yiddish-speaking individuals. Community-based education and rabbinic support may also reduce stigma and foster safer avenues for early intervention.



Keywords: Sex addiction, Orthodox Judaism, grounded theory, shame, emotional regulation

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