Online sexual activity in Mainland China: Relationship to sexual sensation seeking and sociosexuality

• More men reported engaging in all subtypes of OSA experience than women.
• Men reported a higher frequency of SEM and flirting than women.
• Sexual sensation seeking, SOI-behavior and desire significantly predicted OSA.
• SSS, SOI-behavior and desire fully mediated the relationship between gender and OSA.

In this study, we examined online sexual activity (OSA) in Mainland China. Specifically, characteristics of OSA and its relation with sexual sensation seeking and sociosexuality were investigated. OSAs were categorized as viewing sexually-explicit material (SEM), sexual partner seeking, cybersex, and flirting. Participants (N = 460) completed measures of OSA experience within the past 12 months, sexual sensation seeking, and sociosexuality. The majority of participants reported OSA experiences in the past 12 months. However, more men reported engaging in all subtypes of OSA experience than women, and men reported a higher frequency of SEM and flirting than women. Income and sexual experience were also related to frequency of OSA. In addition, sexual sensation seeking, sociosexual behavior and desire, but not sociosexual attitude, significantly predicted OSA. Moreover, sexual sensation seeking, sociosexual behavior, and sociosexual desire fully mediated the relationship between gender and OSA. The results indicated that variables related to offline sexual behavior are also related to OSA, and may account for gender differences in OSA experiences.