Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
Published on: February 25, 2011
Sexual behavior associated with low Verbal IQ in youth who have severe mental illness
C McCurry1, J McClellan, J Adams
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Abstract:
A retrospective chart review was used to examine sexual behavior (hypersexual, exposing, and victimizing) and cognitive impairment in 200 youth who had serious mental illness. Lower IQ was associated with increased sexual acting-out. For more serious victimizing sexual behaviors, only Verbal IQ differences reached statistical significance. Overall, sexual behavior was strongly associated with a history of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse history was significantly associated only with lower Performance IQ. Therefore, the association between low Verbal IQ and sexual victimizing behavior is distinct from the effects of sexual abuse. Results underscore the importance of verbal cognitive abilities, regardless of overall cognitive level, in the etiology and treatment of sexual behaviors, especially among individuals without a history of sexual abuse.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency
The latency period is not considered...
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Behavioral Characteristics and...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Conduct Disorder
Intellectual Disability
Amebiasis

