How Trauma Impacts Sexuality

Our attractions aren't always what they seem. They can be complex responses shaped by experiences we may not even remember.

I want to briefly cover a study I came across that illustrates this. It's a study by Parent and Ferriter from 2018 published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. It's titled, 'The Co-Occurrence of Asexuality and Self-Reported Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosis and Sexual Trauma Within the Past 12 Months Among U.S. College Students.'

The original study sheds light on the potential connection between trauma and sexual identity. While it focuses on asexuality, it raises questions about how past experiences could impact the development of sexual feelings.

The Study

Researchers analyzed data from a large cross-sectional survey of over 33,000 U.S. college students. They identified asexual individuals, through open-ended self-reports, and compared their rates of self-reported PTSD diagnoses and recent sexual trauma to non-asexual peers.

They found:

• Higher Rates of Trauma: Asexual students were significantly more likely to report experiencing traumatic events compared to their non-asexual peers.
• PTSD Connection: The study revealed that asexual students had a 4.44 times higher chance of having a PTSD diagnosis compared to non-asexual students.
• Sexual Trauma: Asexual individuals 'were 2.5 times more likely than non-asexual-identified persons to report sexual trauma within the past 12 months'

These associations held even after adjusting for sex, with no significant interaction between asexuality and sex.

However, it's important to note that there are limitations with the study. It's based on self-reports, which can introduce biases in disclosing orientation or diagnoses. The data only assessed for sexual trauma in the past 12 months. So the study wouldn't have been able to assess if earlier sexual trauma impacted sexual orientation down the line. Additionally, the data relied on self-reporting of PTSD diagnoses. This wouldn't account for individuals who don't have that diagnosis officially or may not recognize they have PTSD symptoms. (Note: childhood trauma is not an official diagnosis.)

Despite some shortcomings, researchers suggest that clinicians 'may [find it] useful to inquire about history of sexual trauma with patients who identify as asexual' for better support, while cautioning against assumptions that all asexual people have trauma histories. In short, they acknowledge an association between trauma and asexuality, but stop short of saying that trauma causes asexuality.

Why Does This Matter?

While the study focused on asexuality, it highlights the connection between trauma and sexuality more broadly speaking. For me, it also raises some important questions about how past experiences — like abuse, neglect, etc. – might profoundly impact our sense of self and our intimate relationships. Similarly, other research has shown that childhood abuse is linked to higher rates of same-sex sexuality in adulthood. Why might this be?

Trauma obviously presents a challenge. But perhaps what's more damaging is not the traumatic experience itself, but its lingering effects on the mind and body. Those downstream effects can result in relational wounds, damaging our sense of self and our ability to connect with others.

The natural longing for connection – something we all have – is compromised when we carry those relational wounds. It makes sense to me that if our ability for healthy intimacy has become compromised, it would likewise impact the ultimate expression of that intimacy, namely our sexuality. And depending on the nature of those relational wounds, sexuality may be expressed (or not expressed) in all kinds of ways.

Healing & Moving Forward

So what do we do with this?

In some ways, studies like these complicate the narrative that sexuality is innate. Instead, we're learning that trauma can profoundly shape sexuality. It's merely a byproduct. A reflection of our inner state.

The good news is, if trauma's involved, addressing it — through therapy, support groups, or otherwise — would be a good starting point. If we can move past the past, perhaps we can begin to reshape how we see ourselves and how we connect with others. This has been my experience and belief: we don't have to be victims to our circumstances.