The Experiences of Adult Children Who Perceive Their Parents as Struggling with Compulsive Sexual Behaviors

Compulsive sexual behaviors (CSB) deeply impact the family system in diverse ways. This study aimed to explore the experiences of self-perceived adult children of parents with compulsive sexual behaviors (ACPCSBs) in childhood and adulthood, and the lasting impacts of having a parent they perceived as struggling with CSB. Due to the novelty of researching the experiences of self-perceived ACPCSBs, a qualitative approach was utilized to provide a deeper understanding of the ACPCSB experience. Participants (n = 10) completed semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. The themes (1) experiences and impacts of self-perceived ACPCSBs and (2) recontextualizing and unraveling their story emerged with numerous subthemes. Participants described their parents’ self-perceived CSB as impacting the sexual messages, images, and behaviors modeled to them, as well as lasting impacts to their sexuality, emotional well-being, identity, and relationships. Participants also described recontextualizing past childhood experiences and emotions in adulthood and unraveling the impacts of their parents’ self-perceived CSB throughout life. This study highlights the challenges and lasting impacts that self-perceived ACPCSBs experience after growing up in a family system with perceived CSB, as well as the need for greater research documenting ACPCSBs experiences.