Online Sexual Activity among Iranian Clients with Borderline Personality Disorder and Its Correlation with Severity of Symptoms

Homa Mohammadsadeghi; Vahid Rashedi; Atoosa Shahesmaeili; Motahareh Sadat  Mirhaj Mohammadabadi; Fatemeh Hadi; Mahsa Boroon; Mohammadreza Shalbafan

doi:10.18502/ijps.v17i4.10688

Homa Mohammadsadeghi Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Vahid Rashedi Iranian Research Center on Aging, Department of Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Atoosa Shahesmaeili Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Motahareh Sadat Mirhaj Mohammadabadi Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fatemeh Hadi School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahsa Boroon Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammadreza Shalbafan Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v17i4.10688

Keywords: Borderline Personality Disorder; Internet Addiction; Mental Health; Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Objective: Clients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often engage in high-risk sexual behaviors. Online sexual platforms convey abusive and harmful themes, especially for this group of sexually impulsive patients. We hypothesized a correlation between their online sexual activities and the severity of BPD symptoms.

Method: Fifty clients with BPD who were referred to Iran psychiatric hospital and Tehran Psychiatric Institute in 2020 participated in this research. The Borderline Evaluation of Severity over Time (BEST) questionnaire was used to assess the severity of BPD symptoms, and the Internet Sex Screening Test (ISST) was used to evaluate online sexual behaviors. A psychiatric interview considered substance abuse and other confounding factors.

Results: The mean ISST and BEST scores were 7.82 ± 5.74 and 41.7 ± 12.5, respectively. There was a positive and significant correlation between the severity of BPD symptoms and online sexual activities (P < 0.001, r = 0.480). There was also a significant relationship between online sexual activities and a history of substance abuse (P = 0.003, F = 25.06).

Conclusion: Online sexual activity can harm clients with BPD who are more vulnerable to high-risk sexual behaviors. More severe borderline personality traits were associated with more online sexual activity, which underlines the importance of providing education about and managing such activities in clients with BPD.