The Psychosexual Profile of Sexual Assistants: An Internet-Based Explorative Study

Sexual assistance may have some aspects that resemble prostitution and others that might lead one to think of sexual assistants as similar to a group of subjects whose sexual object is disability (devotees). In this study, we investigate whether a rigorous selection and training process on the part of specialised organisations may reduce the risk of training subjects with an atypical sexual interest and behaviours resembling prostitution.

The study population consisted of 152 subjects defining themselves as sexual assistants. Subjects were initially contacted on websites specifically dedicated to sexual assistants and prostitutes. One hundred and twenty subjects were selected, by propensity score analysis, and studied by means of a modified version of a semi-structured questionnaire previously developed to investigate a population of subjects attracted by disability.

The study group was composed of 80 trained and 40 untrained sexual assistants, with mean ages of 41.5 (SD +/-12.58) and 44.5 (SD +/-11.62), respectively. A significant number of untrained subjects affirmed that their motivation in carrying out sexual assistance was of a remunerative nature, while this number was lower among the trained assistants (p = 0.001). Nearly all untrained subjects claimed to do one or more of the following activities during sexual assistance: sexual intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation. Among the trained subjects, however, only 47.5% claimed to do one or more of these activities, which means that there is a significant gap between trained and untrained assistants (p<0.0001). The existence of an atypical sexual interest was more evident between untrained rather than between trained subjects (p<0.0001).

Sexual assistance represents a way through which people affected by disabilities may attain the right to explore their sexuality in a safe setting. This can be guaranteed only if sexual assistants are trained and carefully selected by specialised organisations.

Table 2

The table shows the questions investigating characteristics suggestive of prostitution.

ITEMS	TRAINED SUBJECTS (N = 80)	UNTRAINED SUBJECTS (N = 40)	P value
Motivations to work as sexual assistant* (%; N)
For money	61.2%; (49/80)	95%; (38/40)	0.0001
To turn my sexual interest into a job	36.2%; (29/80)	27.5%; (11/40)	0.451
To take care of people affected by disabilities	33.7%; (27/80)	25%; (10/40)	0.442
I don’t know	3.7%; (3/80)	5%; (2/40)	0.872
Is your work as a sexual assistant always remunerated by moneyor other kinds of gifts? (%; N)
Yes	53.7%; (43/80)	87.5%; (35/40)	<0.0001
No	46.2%; (37/80)	12.5%; (5/40)	<0.0001
I’d rather not say	0%; (0/80)	0%; (0/40)	1
What kind of activities do you carry out during sexualassistance? (%; N)
Sexual activities resembling those of prostitution (oral sex, masturbation,sexual intercourse)	47.5%; (38/80)	95%; (38/40)	<0.0001

*Note that some subjects chose more than one option. Hence, the total number of responses does not equal 100% of the sample.

Full article at: http://goo.gl/iqHrnk

By:  Limoncin E1, Galli D1, Ciocca G1, Gravina GL1, Carosa E1, Mollaioli D1, Lenzi A2, Jannini EA3.

• 1Department of Clinical and Applied Sciences and Biotechnologies, School of Sexology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
• 2Department of Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
• 3Department of Clinical and Applied Sciences and Biotechnologies, School of Sexology, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

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