In recent years, the intersection between personality psychology and the socio-economic phenomenon of sex work has gained increasing scholarly attention. A groundbreaking systematic review published in BMC Psychology sheds light on the complex personality characteristics that define emerging adults who engage in sex work, providing a nuanced understanding of this multifaceted population. This review, conducted by Bandurski, Juchem, Baumgardt, and colleagues, offers an unprecedented amalgamation of psychological insights and social implications surrounding a demographic often marginalized and misunderstood. The implications of this comprehensive synthesis reach far beyond academic discourse, urging a reconsideration of societal stereotypes and mental health interventions targeting this group.
Personality psychology, as a field, seeks to understand the stable traits and behaviors that define individual differences. When applied to emerging adults in sex work, this discipline reveals critical adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms against a backdrop of socio-economic hardship and stigmatization. The researchers meticulously reviewed existing studies to identify patterns in traits such as impulsivity, sensation-seeking, resilience, neuroticism, and openness to experience. These findings paint a portrait of emerging adults whose engagement in sex work is not solely economic but intertwined with complex psychological constructs and environmental factors.
This systematic review particularly emphasized the developmental stage known as emerging adulthood—typically ranging from ages 18 to 25—a period characterized by identity exploration, instability, and self-focus. These factors inherently impact decision-making processes, including the initiation or continuation of sex work. The authors argue that personality traits influence how individuals navigate the challenges of this life phase, sometimes steering them toward sex work as a viable, albeit risky, means of financial and emotional survival. This understanding challenges generalized assumptions that paint all sex workers with a broad brush of victimhood or deviance.
One of the standout elements presented in the review is the examination of impulsivity and sensation-seeking. These traits are often highlighted in studies relating to risky behaviors, including substance use and unsafe sexual practices. The review consolidates evidence suggesting that elevated impulsivity among emerging adults in sex work may contribute to both the initiation of sex work and challenges in sustaining safer work environments. However, the correlation between sensation-seeking and sex work engagement appears multifaceted. For some, this trait manifests as a proactive exploration of self-identity and sexuality, while for others, it unfortunately aligns with vulnerability to exploitation.
Another crucial psychological dimension uncovered is resilience—the ability to adapt positively despite adversity. Resilience emerges in several reviewed studies as a critical factor mediating the psychological impact of societal stigma, discrimination, and personal trauma. The capacity to maintain psychological well-being despite these hardships challenges the stereotype of sex workers as inherently psychologically damaged. Instead, resilience underscores the adaptive strategies some individuals employ to negotiate their circumstances, maintain agency, and seek self-actualization.
Neuroticism, traditionally linked to emotional instability, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, was also a salient trait noted in the review. Elevated neuroticism may predispose certain individuals to perceive sex work environments as more stressful, potentially exacerbating mental health challenges. This psychological predisposition intersects with external stressors such as workplace violence, social isolation, and legal barriers. The nuanced understanding of neuroticism’s role highlights the urgent need for tailored mental health interventions that address internal vulnerabilities alongside external pressures.
Interestingly, openness to experience, a trait associated with curiosity, creativity, and acceptance of diverse experiences, revealed a paradoxical relationship with sex work engagement. High openness may support explorative behavior and sexual fluidity, attributes that can lead some emerging adults to enter sex work out of personal agency and choice rather than compulsion. This challenges dominant narratives that often exclude personal autonomy and diverse motivations from discussions about sex work.
The review also delves into comorbid psychosocial factors such as childhood trauma, substance use, and socio-economic deprivation, situating personality characteristics within broader ecological systems. Early adverse experiences are prevalent in this population and interact with personality traits to influence pathways into sex work. For example, individuals with high impulsivity and histories of trauma might be more susceptible to entering sex work under precarious circumstances. Conversely, those with greater resilience and openness may use sex work as a deliberate life choice amid limited alternatives.
From a methodological perspective, the authors leveraged meta-analytic techniques to integrate data from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies across multiple cultural contexts. This approach strengthens the validity of their findings, while also acknowledging the heterogeneity inherent to personality assessments and sex work typologies. The review calls for future research to employ longitudinal designs that can better capture the dynamic interplay between personality development and occupational trajectories.
Moreover, the systematic review uncovers significant gaps in the literature. Few studies disaggregate personality characteristics by gender, sexual orientation, or specific sex work modalities (e.g., street-based versus online platforms). These nuances are critical given the diversity of experiences and risks faced by different subgroups within the broader category of emerging adults in sex work. Understanding the heterogeneity is essential for the development of nuanced, culturally competent interventions.
The implications of this comprehensive review extend into public health, policy, and clinical practice. From a public health standpoint, recognizing the psychological profiles common among emerging adult sex workers can inform harm reduction strategies that resonate with individual personality traits. For instance, interventions targeting impulsivity could incorporate skill-building in decision-making and emotional regulation, while those supporting resilience could emphasize community connection and empowerment.
Policy discussions around sex work predominantly focus on legality and morality; however, the review urges incorporation of psychological considerations into these debates. The acknowledgment of personality diversity and adaptive agency challenges punitive frameworks and supports evidence-based, compassionate policies that prioritize worker safety and mental health. Such policies might facilitate better access to healthcare, psychological services, and social support without attaching stigma.
In clinical settings, mental health practitioners are encouraged to adopt personality-informed approaches when working with emerging adults engaged in sex work. Assessments should consider not only the presence of distress but also individual personality strengths and vulnerabilities. Tailoring therapeutic interventions to these nuanced profiles could enhance efficacy and promote holistic well-being, moving beyond symptom suppression toward empowerment and resilience cultivation.
Beyond the individual level, societal attitudes toward sex work are slowly evolving, in part due to research such as this. The detailed exploration of personality characteristics humanizes a population often subject to dehumanizing narratives. By spotlighting the interplay between personality, developmental stage, and socio-environmental factors, this review invites a paradigm shift—one that recognizes sex workers as complex agents navigating a spectrum of personal and societal challenges.
This research also intersects with ongoing technological transformations within sex work. The emergence of online sex work platforms, for example, may attract individuals with particular personality traits like higher openness and conscientiousness, who seek more controlled environments. Future inquiries that integrate digital behavioral analysis could provide further granularity on how personality influences modality choice and risk management.
One cannot overstate the importance of this systematic review in advancing interdisciplinary dialogue. Psychologists, sociologists, public health officials, and policymakers stand to benefit from its insights, fostering collaborations aimed at improving outcomes for emerging adults in sex work. Its meticulous synthesis of psychological variables within a controversial and sensitive domain embodies the potential of science to inform public empathy and structural change.
As the societal landscape continues to shift regarding gender, sexuality, and labor, this research provides a critical foundation. It highlights that interventions and policies must be attuned to the heterogeneity and complexity of human personality. Any efforts to support emerging adult sex workers must balance respect for agency with protection from harm, informed by a deep understanding of psychological underpinnings elucidated through this timely and rigorous systematic review.
Subject of Research: Personality characteristics in emerging adults engaging in sex work.
Article Title: Personality characteristics in emerging adults engaging in sex work: a systematic review.
Article References:
Bandurski, L.C., Juchem, C.M., Baumgardt, S. et al. Personality characteristics in emerging adults engaging in sex work: a systematic review.
BMC Psychol 13, 879 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03242-6
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