An examination of childhood experiences and parentification on sexual identity schemas, sexual compulsions, and the timing of first sexual intercourse

Purpose: The overall aim of this study is to examine the relationship between childhood experiences, parentification, and the sexual self-schema, sexual compulsion, and timing of the first sexual intercourse. Method: The data regarding individuals childhood experiences were collected using the 'Childhood Experiences Scale' developed by Manap (2015), data on the levels of parentification were obtained through the 'Parentification Inventory' adapted by Közden (2015), data related to sexual self-schema were gathered using the 'Sexual Self-Schema Scale' adapted by Koçak and Fışıloğlu, and lastly, the levels of individuals' sexual com-pulsion were measured using the 'Sexual Compulsion Scale' adapted by Akin & Çelik (2015). 498 women and 150 men participated in the study, making a total of 648 partici-pants. The data obtained from the research were analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 20.0 software packages. Results: According to the findings obtained in the study, significant relationships are observed among childhood experiences, parentification, sexual self-schema, sexual compulsions, and the timing of the first sexual encounter. Additionally, significant results have emerged among the sub-dimensions of these variables. According to the results of the obtained path analysis, among the sub-dimensions of childhood experiences, family experiences negatively predict the love-affectionate schema of an individual's sexual self-schema. Conversely, school experiences do not negatively predict an individual's love-affectionate schema in their sexual self-schema. Family experiences and school experien-ces during childhood positively predict an individual's focus on sexual behaviors and fai-lure in sexual impulses. Childhood school experiences negatively predict the age at which an individual has their first sexual encounter. Personal-social experiences during child-hood negatively predict the sensual-arousing and indirect-openness sub-dimensions of an individual's sexual self-schema. Perceived benefits of parentification positively predict all sub-dimensions of an individual's sexual self-schema. Focus on sexual behaviors is posi-tively predicted by the perceived benefits of parentification. Failure in sexual impulses is negatively predicted by sibling-focused parentification. The age of experiencing the first sexual encounter is positively predicted by the perceived benefits of parentification and negatively predicted by parent-focused parentification. Conclusion and Suggestions: In conclusion, it has been observed that childhood experiences and sub-dimensions of parentification significantly predict sub-dimensions of sexual self-schema, sexual compulsions, and the timing of the first sexual encounter. The results of this study are believed to provide guidance for the formulation and implementa-tion of sexual health policies, enhance the sexual health of the community, and have the potential to prevent adolescents from engaging in risky sexual behaviors. It is also thought that the findings may serve as a roadmap for psychological counseling sessions with adult individuals experiencing sexual compulsions and negative sexual self-schemas. Keywords: Childhood experiences, Parentification, Sexual self-schema, Sexual compul-sions, Timing of the irst sexual intercourse.