What the science actually says about pornography, masturbation and sexual health
Every peer-reviewed study we can find on these topics is pulled from Europe PMC (PubMed/MEDLINE and PMC), linked to its scite Smart Citations (how later papers support or contradict it), and appraised against a published seven-dimension rubric built from GRADE, Cochrane RoB 2, ROBINS-I, AMSTAR 2 and the sexuality-research measurement literature. AI appraisals are generated from abstracts and labelled as such; expert-reviewed entries were checked against the full paper by Daniel A. Burgess, LMFT.
8,829 studies indexed · 7,681 appraised · 34 expert-reviewed · 39 rated 8–10/10 · data: CSV · JSON · rubric (JSON)
Expert-reviewed studies
- The Female Sexual Response: A Different Model
Basson (2000) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · quality 10/10 · scite 30 supporting / 4 contrasting
Demonstrates that in committed relationships, sexual desire is frequently responsive rather than spontaneous: a partner begins from emotional neutrality, chooses to engage for closeness/pleasure when the context is safe, experiences physical and mental arousal, and THEN experiences conscious sexual desire. - Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence: An Integrative Model with a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Grubbs (2019) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · quality 10/10 · scite 27 supporting / 3 contrasting
Landmark systematic review and meta-analysis establishing the Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence (PPMI) model. Demonstrates that moral disapproval and religiosity robustly predict self-reported "pornography addiction," explaining far more variance in distress than actual viewing habits. - Moral Disapproval and Perceived Addiction to Internet Pornography: A Longitudinal Examination
Grubbs (2018) · Addiction · quality 10/10 · scite 5 supporting / 0 contrasting
Crucial longitudinal study proving temporal precedence: baseline moral disapproval predicted increases in perceived addiction one year later, even when controlling for actual pornography viewing frequency over that year. - Moral Incongruence and Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Results from Cross-Sectional Interactions and Parallel Growth Curve Analyses
Grubbs (2020) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · quality 10/10 · scite 2 supporting / 1 contrasting
Examines how moral incongruence interacts with broader Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB) scores over time. Shows that moral incongruence amplifies self-reported CSB symptoms at every level of actual sexual behavior. - Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder in the ICD-11 (Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements, Code 6C72)
World Health Organization (WHO) & Kraus (2019) · World Health Organization ICD-11 / World Psychiatry · quality 10/10 · scite 1 supporting / 1 contrasting
Official WHO ICD-11 classification of Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder (CSBD, 6C72). Places CSBD under Impulse Control Disorders — explicitly NOT under Substance Use or Addictive Behaviours — due to insufficient evidence of addiction equivalence. Crucially mandates that distress driven entirely by moral judgments or religious disapproval cannot be diagnosed as CSBD. - Self-Reported Addiction to Pornography in a Nationally Representative Sample: The Roles of Use Habits, Religiousness, and Moral Incongruence
Grubbs (2019) · Journal of Behavioral Addictions · quality 10/10 · scite 28 supporting / 6 contrasting
In a nationally representative sample of US adults, ~11% of men and ~3% of women reported feeling some level of "addiction" to pornography — and moral incongruence/religiosity was a prime driver of self-reported addiction alongside use frequency. - Moral Incongruence and Pornography Use: A Critical Review and Integration
Grubbs (2019) · The Journal of Sex Research · quality 9/10 · scite 8 supporting / 1 contrasting
Integrates psychological and sociological research on moral incongruence, explaining how sacred values, religious identity, and purity culture interact with digital pornography use to produce acute psychological and relational distress. - Differences in Pornography Use Among Couples: Associations with Satisfaction, Stability, and Relationship Processes
Willoughby BJ (2016) · Archives of sexual behavior · quality 9/10 · scite 4 supporting / 2 contrasting
Dyadic couple analyses demonstrating that a partner's perception and moral meaning of pornography use (β = -0.28) and perceived betrayal mediate relationship distress far more strongly than objective viewing frequency (β = -0.15). Cranney (2017) further showed religious women perceiving pornography as infidelity experience large distress (d = 0.85) compared to secular women at the same frequency (d = 0.12, ns). - Do pornography use and masturbation play a role in erectile dysfunction and relationship satisfaction in men?
Rowland DL (2023) · International journal of impotence research · quality 9/10 · scite 2 supporting / 1 contrasting
Directly tests whether apparent associations between pornography use and sexual dysfunction survive after controlling for solitary masturbation frequency (which co-occurs >95% of the time in men) and pre-existing depression/anxiety. Shows that bivariate pornography effects (β = -0.24) drop to non-significance (β = -0.08, ns) when masturbation and depression (β = -0.35) are controlled. - Masturbation as a Means of Achieving Sexual Health
Coleman (2002) · Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality · quality 9/10 · scite 2 supporting / 1 contrasting
Documents masturbation as a universal, normative aspect of human sexual development from childhood through older adulthood. Shows that self-exploration builds body awareness, healthy arousal understanding, and resilience against sexual dysfunction, while pathologizing it inflicts psychological harm. - Is Pornography Use Related to Erectile Functioning? Results From Cross-Sectional and Latent Growth Curve Analyses
Grubbs JB (2019) · The journal of sexual medicine · quality 9/10 · scite 1 supporting / 1 contrasting
Across three samples (undergraduates, online adults, and a US nationally representative sample tracked over a year), mere pornography viewing frequency was unrelated to erectile problems. However, self-reported problematic use / moral incongruence weakly correlated with self-reported erectile worry — driven by anxiety and guilt rather than viewing exposure. - But What's Your Partner Up to? Associations Between Relationship Quality and Pornography Use Depend on Contextual Patterns of Use Within the Couple
Kohut T (2021) · Frontiers in psychology · quality 9/10 · scite 0 supporting / 0 contrasting
Demonstrates that the association between pornography use and relationship/sexual satisfaction cannot be understood by looking at viewing frequency in isolation; it depends on the contextual pattern within the couple (solitary vs. shared, secret vs. honest, concordant vs. discrepant values). - Historical Development of New Masturbation Attitudes in Mormon Culture: Silence, Secular Conformity, Counterrevolution, and Emerging Reform
Malan (2005) · Sexuality & Culture · quality 9/10 · scite 0 supporting / 0 contrasting
Traces how nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Mormon culture rarely treated masturbation as a grave ecclesiastical sin (and in 1927 published progressive medical reassurance in the Relief Society Magazine), before mid-twentieth-century institutional leaders adopted Victorian purity rhetoric and bishop worthiness interrogation practices. - Is Pornography Use Associated with Anti-Woman Attitudes? Re-Examining the Confluence Model with Third Variable Considerations
Kohut (2016) · The Journal of Sex Research · quality 9/10 · scite 6 supporting / 2 contrasting
Using nationally representative US General Social Survey data across 35 years, found that pornography viewers did NOT hold more negative attitudes toward women than non-viewers; in fact, viewers held more egalitarian attitudes toward women in public leadership, employment, and family roles. - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Treatment for Problematic Internet Pornography Viewing: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Crosby (2016) · Behavior Therapy · quality 9/10 · scite 3 supporting / 0 contrasting
Landmark Randomized Controlled Trial conducted at Utah State University with predominantly Latter-day Saint men struggling with unwanted pornography viewing. Twelve sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — focusing on psychological flexibility, defusion from shame, and values-based living rather than "addiction" labels or thought suppression — reduced viewing by 92% post-treatment (vs. 21% in waitlist) and improved quality of life. - Treating Out of Control Sexual Behavior: Rethinking Sex Addiction
Braun-Harvey (2016) · Springer Publishing Company · quality 9/10 · scite 1 supporting / 0 contrasting
Establishes the Out of Control Sexual Behavior (OCSB) clinical model and the Six Principles of Sexual Health (Consent, Non-exploitation, Protection, Honesty, Shared Values, Pleasure — adapted in Sacred as Agency, Consent, Mutuality, Honesty, Pleasure, Protection). Replaces disease/addiction pathology with needs-based assessment and personal responsibility. - Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers
Kleinplatz (2020) · Routledge · quality 9/10 · scite 1 supporting / 0 contrasting
Instead of studying sexual dysfunction, Kleinplatz and Ménard studied people having extraordinary sex across decades of marriage. Found that magnificent sex is NOT predicted by youth, physical perfection, or acrobatic technique, but by 8 qualities: being present/embodied, authenticity, intense emotional connection, interpersonal risk-taking/vulnerability, empathy, communication, and transcendence. - Impulsive/Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Assessment and Treatment
Coleman (2011) · The Oxford Handbook of Impulse Control Disorders (Oxford University Press) · quality 9/10 · scite 0 supporting / 1 contrasting
Eli Coleman demonstrates why dysregulated sexual behavior is best understood and treated through impulse control, anxiety regulation, and sexual health principles rather than chemical addiction models. - Addicted to Lust: Pornography and the Lived Experience of Moral Incongruence Among Conservative Protestants
Perry (2019) · Oxford University Press · quality 9/10 · scite 0 supporting / 0 contrasting
Demonstrates how religious communities that frame all sexual desire or pornography viewing through an apocalyptic "addiction" lens inadvertently create the very secrecy, depression, and marital breakdown they seek to prevent. - High-Frequency Pornography Use May Not Always Be Problematic
Bóthe (2018) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · quality 9/10 · scite 27 supporting / 1 contrasting
Identifies three distinct profiles of pornography viewers: recreational users (~68–75%), highly engaged non-problematic users (~19–25% who view frequently without distress or impairment), and problematic users (~3–8%). Proves that high viewing frequency alone does not equal addiction or pathology. - Transgression as Addiction: Religiosity and Moral Disapproval as Predictors of Perceived Addiction to Pornography
Grubbs (2015) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · quality 9/10 · scite 15 supporting / 0 contrasting
The foundational paper introducing the moral incongruence framework. Across three studies, religiosity and moral disapproval of pornography predicted "perceived addiction" more strongly than actual pornography use frequency. - Modulation of Late Positive Potentials by Sexual Images in Problem Users and Controls Inconsistent with “Porn Addiction”
Prause (2015) · Biological Psychology · quality 9/10 · scite 9 supporting / 3 contrasting
Directly tested the core neurological prediction of the addiction model: whether people reporting out-of-control pornography use show heightened brain cue-reactivity (Late Positive Potential, LPP) to sexual images like cocaine or nicotine addicts do. Found the exact opposite: "problem users" showed LOWER LPP reactivity than controls, consistent with simple visual habituation. - Avoidant and compulsive sexual behaviors in male and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Vaillancourt-Morel MP (2015) · Child abuse & neglect · quality 9/10 · scite 2 supporting / 1 contrasting
Demonstrates that Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA, β = 0.31) and high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs — found in up to 78% of treatment-seeking CSB samples in Reid et al., 2012) strongly predict dysregulated sexual behavior as a dissociative or self-soothing coping response to unresolved trauma. - The Emperor Has No Clothes: A Review of the “Pornography Addiction” Model
Ley (2014) · Current Sexual Health Reports · quality 9/10 · scite 1 supporting / 0 contrasting
Evaluates the scientific validity of the "pornography addiction" construct across neuroscience, behavioral, and treatment literature. Finds that Less than 37% of articles claiming "porn addiction" contained actual empirical data, and existing experimental data fail to support substance-like addiction mechanisms. - Do People in Conservative States Really Watch More Porn? A Hierarchical Analysis
Perry SL (2020) · Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World · quality 9/10 · scite 0 supporting / 0 contrasting
Resolves the viral claim that religious/conservative states watch more pornography. Shows that observant religious individuals actually view pornography less frequently than secular peers, but state-level search metrics are inflated by moral anxiety, shame-driven searches for "porn addiction," and non-practicing residents. - Viewing More Sexual Stimuli Is Associated with GREATER, Not Lesser, Sexual Arousal and Erectile Function
Prause (2015) · Sexual Medicine · quality 8/10 · scite 4 supporting / 1 contrasting
Found that men who viewed more visual sexual stimuli actually reported higher sexual arousal to partnered sex scenarios and higher dyadic sexual desire, with zero correlation to erectile dysfunction. - Perceived Effects of Pornography on the Couple Relationship: Initial Findings of Open-Ended, Empirical Research
Kohut (2017) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · quality 8/10 · scite 6 supporting / 1 contrasting
When researchers asked couples open-ended questions without presupposing harm, the single most common reported effect of pornography on relationships was "no negative effect," followed by improved sexual communication and experimentation, while a smaller subset reported unrealistic expectations or secrecy conflict. - Abstinence Motivation and Masturbation Guilt: Psychological Correlates of “NoFap” and Abstinence Beliefs
Zimmer (2020) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · quality 8/10 · scite 2 supporting / 0 contrasting
Examined the psychological drivers of masturbation abstinence movements. Found that motivation to abstain from masturbation was NOT predicted by hypersexual behavior, but by moral conservatism, religiosity, belief that masturbation is physically/mentally harmful, and distrust of science. - Pornography and Attitudes Supporting Violence Against Women: Revisiting the Relationship in Nonexperimental Studies
Hald (2010) · Aggressive Behavior · quality 8/10 · scite 10 supporting / 0 contrasting
Found a small overall correlation (r = .18) between pornography use and attitudes supporting violence against women in non-experimental studies, strongly moderated by whether the material was explicitly violent and whether the viewer already scored high on hostile masculinity (the Confluence Model). - Is Pornography Use Associated with Sexual Difficulties and Dysfunctions Among Younger Heterosexual Men?
Landripet (2015) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · quality 8/10 · scite 7 supporting / 1 contrasting
Tested the viral claim that internet pornography is causing an epidemic of erectile dysfunction ("PIED") in young men across three large European samples. Found little to no association between pornography use frequency and erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or low sexual desire. - Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated With Pornography Consumption: The Brain on Porn [CRITIQUED]
Kühn (2014) · JAMA Psychiatry · quality 6/10 · scite 10 supporting / 1 contrasting
Found a negative correlation between self-reported hours of pornography viewing and right caudate gray matter volume in 64 healthy men. The authors themselves explicitly noted that their cross-sectional study could NOT show pornography caused brain changes (men with certain baseline brain structures or higher libido may simply look at more erotica, or normal habituation/synaptic efficiency may occur). Widely misrepresented by advocacy groups as proof of "brain damage." - Neural correlates of sexual cue reactivity in individuals with and without compulsive sexual behaviours
Voon V (2014) · PloS one · quality 5/10 · scite 29 supporting / 2 contrasting
Found increased dorsal anterior cingulate, ventral striatum, and amygdala BOLD activation to sexually explicit videos in 19 men with compulsive sexual behavior compared to 19 controls. Frequently cited by pro-addiction advocates as proof of 'brain addiction,' but BOLD measures blood flow (not dopamine or D2 receptor downregulation), N=19 is underpowered for whole-brain fMRI (Mumford & Nichols, 2008), and moral incongruence/shame/arousal were not ruled out. - Hypersexual Disorder: A Proposed Diagnosis for DSM-V [REJECTED PROPOSAL]
Kafka (2010) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · quality 4/10 · scite 35 supporting / 4 contrasting
Kafka's proposed diagnostic criteria for "Hypersexual Disorder" for DSM-5. Ultimately rejected by the American Psychiatric Association in 2012 because it failed to control for moral incongruence, lacked biological/neurological validation, and risked pathologizing normal variations in sexual desire. - Is Internet Pornography Causing Sexual Dysfunctions? A Review with Clinical Reports [peer-reviewed form of Wilson's "Your Brain on Porn" argument — critiqued]
Park (2016) · Behavioral Sciences · quality 2/10 · scite 5 supporting / 1 contrasting
Popularized the claim that internet pornography hijacks dopamine, accumulates DeltaFosB to cause brain damage, and causes an epidemic of "PIED." Heavily critiqued by peer-reviewed neuroscientists and sexologists (Ley, Prause, Grubbs, Štulhofer) for cherry-picking cross-sectional correlations, misapplying rodent sexual exhaustion models to humans, and ignoring moral incongruence.
Loading the full searchable database…
Annotated bibliography by topic
The studies below are grouped by the questions people actually bring to therapy and to the pulpit. Each entry gives the study design, who was studied and how many, and a summary in the authors’ own words (quoted or closely paraphrased from the paper). Links go to the publisher record via DOI, with an open full-text copy where one is stably available. Every study with a DOI is also indexed in the searchable database above, where it carries its own methodological appraisal and scite citation tally — use “Open in database” to jump to it.
Is pornography a “public health crisis”? 4 studies
- Should Public Health Professionals Consider Pornography a Public Health Crisis?
Nelson, K. M., & Rothman, E. F. (2020) · American Journal of Public Health · Design: Review · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: The movement to declare pornography a public health crisis is rooted in an ideology that is antithetical to many core values of public health promotion and is a political stunt, not reflective of best available evidence. [Full text · Open in database] - Constructing a crisis: porn panics and public health
Webber, V., & Sullivan, R. (2018) · Porn Studies
Author summary: Labelling porn a public health crisis has become the newest tactic for anti-porn activists seeking to curtail pornography distribution. Yet not one global health agency – the usual experts to identify and define the scope of a public health issue – supports their claims. Traditionally, the field of public health has concerned itself with disease prevention by addressing the systemic causes of pervasive health problems that impact either a significant majority of people (e.g. sanitation systems or childhood vaccinations) or the most marginalized segments of a population (e.g. HIV prevention or safe injection sites). Pornography consumption meets neither of these criteria. Treating porn as a 'public health crisis' is a gross misallocation of priorities. Framing pornography as a health issue is a privileged and politically motivated misdirection of public health resources. [Full text · Open in database] - The pornography debate: Religiosity and support for censorship
Droubay, B. A., Butters, R. P., & Shafer, K. (2018) · Journal of Religion and Health, 1-16 · Design: Existing data: General social survey · Population: Nationally representative USA adults · N: 1676
Author summary: Data suggest support for antipornography campaigns is significantly related to support of censorship. If religious persons are already more likely to perceive they are addicted to pornography, then they may be especially sensitive to hyperbolic messaging of legislative edicts declaring pornography a public health crisis. Thus, there may be a reinforcing cycle. High religiosity, female gender, authoritarian attitudes, older age, and conservative political ideology are all individual characteristics associated with support for pornography censorship. [Full text · Open in database] - Exposing children to pornography: How competing constructions of childhood shape state regulation of online pornographic material
Keen, C., France, A., & Kramer, R. (2020) · New Media & Society, 22(5), 857-874 · Design: Policy review · Population: New Zealand · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Rather than positivist notions of the ‘developing’ and ‘vulnerable’ child dominating policy discourse, post-modern representations of the ‘savvy’ and ‘agentic’ child have come to dominate policy culture and outcomes. In this scenario, the regulatory role of states in providing media protection is diminished, while neoliberal forms of governance that emphasize the responsibility of individuals, including parents and children, have come to dominate the emerging policy landscape. [Open in database]
Erotica is processed as pleasure, not threat (neuroscience) 13 studies
- Hemodynamic and electrocortical reactivity to specific scene contents in emotional perception
Frank, D. W., & Sabatinelli, D. (2019) · Psychophysiology, 56(6), e13340 · Design: fMRI experiment · Population: Healthy adults; students · N: 19
Author summary: The EPN component, as well as hemodynamic activity in lateral occipital cortex and frontoparietal network, showed greater reactivity during highly arousing pleasant erotic images relative to unpleasant scenes, consistent with a pleasure bias. [Open in database] - Pleasure rather than salience activates human nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex
Sabatinelli, D., Bradley, M. M., Lang, P. J., Costa, V. D., & Versace, F. (2007) · Journal of Neurophysiology, 98(3), 1374-1379 · Design: Experiment · Population: Healthy students · N: 48
Author summary: We find in two studies that free viewing of pleasant images of erotic and romantic couples prompts clear, reliable increases in nucleus accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity, whereas equally arousing (salient) unpleasant images, and neutral pictures, do not. These data suggest that in visual perception, the human NAc and mPFC are specifically reactive to pleasant, rewarding stimuli and are not engaged by unpleasant stimuli, despite high stimulus salience. [Full text · Open in database] - Measuring Self-Perceived Effects of Pornography: A Short-Form Version of the Pornography Consumption Effects Scale
Miller, D. J., Kidd, G., & Hald, G. M. (2019) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(3), 753-761 · Design: Survey · Population: Adult men · N: 312
Author summary: The instrument has nine subscales arranged along two effects dimensions: (1) the positive effects dimension (PED) and (2) the negative effects dimension (NED). The PED has five subscales: sex life, positive (SL-P); life in general, positive (LG-P); attitudes toward sex, positive (ATS-P); perceptions and attitudes toward the opposite gender, positive (PATOG-P); and sexual knowledge, positive (SK-P). The NED has four subscales: sex life, negative (SL-N); life in general, negative (LG-N); attitudes toward sex, negative (ATS-N); and perceptions and attitudes toward the opposite gender, negative (PATOG-N). The sample self-perceived pornography to have a greater positive than negative effect on their lives across all the domains measured by the PCES-SF. [Open in database] - Blunted neural response to appetitive images prospectively predicts symptoms of depression, and not anxiety, during the transition to university
Sandre, A., Bagot, R. C., & Weinberg, A. (2019) · Biological Psychology, 145, 31-41 · Design: Experiment; electroencephalography (EEG) · Population: Female adult · N: 70
Author summary: The present study examined whether neural responses to appetitive and aversive images, measured by the late positive potential (LPP), prospectively predict symptoms of depression and/or anxiety during the transition to university. These findings suggest that a blunted late positive potential to appetitive, erotic images may be a biomarker of risk for developing symptoms of depression, and not anxiety, following life stress. [Open in database] - Neural response to pleasant stimuli in anhedonia: an fMRI study
Mitterschiffthaler, M. T., Kumari, V., Malhi, G. S., Brown, R. G., Giampietro, V. P., Brammer, M. J., … & Sharma, T. (2003) · Neuroreport, 14(2), 177-182 · Design: fMRI experiment · Population: Females · N: 14 (7 patient; 7 control)
Author summary: Women suffering with depression/anhedonia neurally responded with less pleasure to pleasant, especially erotic, images relative to healthy controls. [Open in database] - Emotion and the motivational brain
Lang, P. J., & Bradley, M. M. (2010) · Biological Psychology, 84(3), 437-450 · Design: Review of experiment
Author summary: Emotional and neutral pictures were organized into categories that represented a monotonic increase in rated emotional arousal sequentially, from neutral scenes to neutral people, to non-threatening animals, to snakes, to erotica, to mutilated human bodies. It was only erotic stimuli that activated medial prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens, consistent with the view that these structures are specifically implicated in the brain’s appetitive motivational circuit. [Open in database] - Processing of primary and secondary rewards: a quantitative meta-analysis and review of human functional neuroimaging studies
Sescousse, G., Caldú, X., Segura, B., & Dreher, J. C. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(4), 681-696 · Design: Neuroimaging literature review
Author summary: We performed an Activation Likelihood Estimation meta-analysis of 87 studies (1452 subjects) comparing the brain responses to monetary, erotic and food reward outcomes. Those three rewards robustly engaged a common brain network including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, amygdala, anterior insula and mediodorsal thalamus, although with some variations in the intensity and location of peak activity. Food and erotic (i.e. primary) rewards were more strongly represented in the anterior insula, while erotic stimuli elicited particularly robust responses in the amygdala. Together, these results indicate that the computation of experienced reward value does not only recruit a core “reward system” but also reward type-dependent brain structures. [Full text · Open in database] - Sleep deprivation amplifies reactivity of brain reward networks, biasing the appraisal of positive emotional experiences
Gujar, N., Yoo, S. S., Hu, P., & Walker, M. P. (2011) · Journal of Neuroscience, 31(12), 4466-4474 · Design: fMRI · Population: Healthy age 18-30 · N: 27
Author summary: The event-related fMRI design was composed of 100 picture stimulus presentation trials, selected from a standardized picture set (International Affective Picture System) (Lang, 1997). The picture stimuli ranged in a standardized gradient from emotionally neutral (neutral valence, low arousal) to increasingly pleasant (erotica). Regions in this dopaminergic reward network, encompassing the putamen and VTA, exhibited significantly greater activation in response to positive emotional stimuli in the sleep-deprived group, relative to those who had slept. This increase in reactivity of the VTA—a structure that can also scale in response magnitude with increasing reward value (Fields et al., 2007)—may offer a putative mechanism underlying the increase in the biased number of positive stimulus judgments observed in the deprivation group. [Full text · Open in database] - Areas of brain activation in males and females during viewing of erotic film excerpts
Karama, S., Lecours, A. R., Leroux, J. M., Bourgouin, P., Beaudoin, G., Joubert, S., & Beauregard, M. (2002) · Human Brain Mapping, 16(1), 1-13 · Design: fMRI · Population: Male and female · N: 40
Author summary: Brain activity was measured while male and female subjects were viewing erotic film excerpts. Viewing erotic film excerpts was associated, for both genders, with bilateral blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal increases in the anterior cingulate, medial prefrontal, orbitofrontal, insular, and occipitotemporal cortices, as well as in the amygdala and the ventral striatum. Greater sexual arousal when viewing erotica was associated with more functional differences. [Full text · Open in database] - Nucleus accumbens activation mediates the influence of reward cues on financial risk taking
Knutson, B., Wimmer, G. E., Kuhnen, C. M., & Winkielman, P. (2008) · NeuroReport, 19(5), 509-513 · Design: fMRI · Population: Heterosexual males · N: 15
Author summary: During the first part of each trial, subjects saw visual stimuli. These consisted of one of three shape cues (i.e., circle, square, or triangle; 4 sec) signaling the impending display of a positive (i.e., erotic couples), negative (i.e., snakes or spiders), or neutral (i.e., household appliances) picture. Anticipation of viewing rewarding stimuli increased financial risk taking, and this effect was partly due to greater NAcc activation associated with greater sexual arousal. [Full text · Open in database] - Neural substrate of the late positive potential in emotional processing
Liu, Y., Huang, H., McGinnis-Deweese, M., Keil, A., & Ding, M. (2012) · Journal of Neuroscience, 32(42), 14563-14572 · Design: fMRI and EEG experiment · Population: Healthy · N: 15
Author summary: The pleasant pictures in general included sport scenes, romance, and erotic couples, whereas the unpleasant pictures incorporated threat, attack scenes, and bodily mutilations. The neutral pictures included landscapes and neutral human beings. Extracting LPP on a trial-by-trial basis, the overall LPP amplitude variability across three picture categories (pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant) was found to be correlated with BOLD responses in an extensive cortical and subcortical network, including visual cortices and deep emotion-processing structures. In addition, consistent with the notion that appetitive and aversive information may engage different neural substrates, the brain areas in which BOLD activity was correlated with LPP amplitude during pleasant picture viewing were not the same as those during unpleasant picture viewing. [Full text · Open in database] - Distinguishing specific sexual and general emotional effects in fMRI—Subcortical and cortical arousal during erotic picture viewing
Walter, M., Bermpohl, F., Mouras, H., Schiltz, K., Tempelmann, C., Rotte, M., … & Northoff, G. (2008) · NeuroImage, 40(4), 1482-1494 · Design: fMRI · Population: Heterosexual men and women · N: 21
Author summary: Bodily erotic and non-bodily, emotional picture categories were matched for standard ratings of arousal, dominance and valence as provided by the IAPS catalogue. Our findings support earlier models of sexual arousal favoring involvement of certain brain regions in distinct components of sexual arousal. Both the hypothalamus and VS thus have been previously hypothesized to be key players of specific erotic processing as opposed to mediating structures through elevated but unspecific emotional arousal that normally accompanies sexually arousing situations. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate this specificity of neural activity on the basis of behavioral and subjective data. This was accomplished by carefully matching for effects of emotions and body during sexual arousal. Still, our findings should not be interpreted as suggesting that activity in the VTA-VS continuum would be restricted to sexual processes. [Open in database] - Probe P3 and blinks: Two measures of affective startle modulation
Schupp, H. T., Cuthbert, B. N., Bradley, M. M., Birbaumer, N., & Lang, P. J. (1997) · Psychophysiology, 34(1), 1-6 · Design: EEG and startle eyeblink · Population: Men and women · N: 37
Author summary: IAPS image slides were shown, including pleasant (e.g., sports, opposite sex nudes) content. Blink magnitude was larger when viewing unpleasant material and smaller when viewing pleasant material. Erotic images were processed as other pleasant images. [Open in database]
Who drives the anti-porn and “porn addiction” movements? 20 studies
- ‘Don’t push your immorals on me’: Encouraging anti-porn advocacy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Sumerau, J. E., & Cragun, R. T. (2015) · Sexualities, 18(1-2), 57-79 · Design: Content analysis · Population: LDS General Conference talks and the Ensign · N: Years 1897–2012
Author summary: LDS elites defined opposition to pornography as an inspired calling for Mormon people. LDS leaders explicitly encourage anti-porn advocacy. LDS leaders used official speeches to promote these materials to followers, and suggest followers should share the [self-produced anti-porn media] widely. They implicitly linked pornographic consumption to other behaviors, such as smoking and drinking, the Church had long diagnosed as sources of spiritual failure. LDS leaders also emphasized the importance of spreading the word against pornography through film. Specifically, they emphasized Church efforts to create and distribute documentaries that could teach people moral lessons regarding pornographic and other sexual issues. LDS leaders made sure followers understood the rewards of anti-porn efforts. combatingpornography.org was formed by the LDS church. They made a point of providing their audiences with detailed accounts of the courageous efforts believers were making to eliminate pornography. In so doing, they encouraged anti-porn advocacy throughout the Church by highlighting and complimenting believers who had already begun to engage in such activities. Thomas S. Monson – the then President and Prophet of the LDS Church (though an apostle at the time he gave this speech) – called for followers to ‘‘wage and win the war’’ against pornography. The Mormon war against pornography has largely been ineffectual. [Open in database] - Reddit Mining to Understand Gendered Movements
Khan, A., & Golab, L. (2020) · In EDBT/ICDT Workshops · Design: Topic modelling · Population: Reddit posts · N: Not applicable
Author summary: r/TheRedPill users are similar to those interested in r/seduction, r/steroids, r/NoFap (for abstaining from pornography and masturbation, often to the benefit of one’s social life), other movements related to red pill theories (such as r/marriedredpill, r/PurplePillDebate, r/RedPillWomen, and r/askMRP), and some social movements associated with men (for example, r/MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way), r/MensRights, and r/Incels). Users commenting on r/MensRights are similar to users who are politically right leaning and associated with sexist or racist content. Users commenting on r/TheRedPill are similar to those who do not believe in the equality of race or gender. - The totalizing meritocracy of heterosex: Subjectivity in NoFap
Hartmann, M. (2020) · Sexualities · Design: Discourse analysis of YouTube NoFap videos · Population: NoFap community · N: Not applicable
Author summary: NoFap videos subsequently argue that masturbation has hidden costs. Unconfident and overly emotional, he becomes an effeminate version of himself. By engaging in non-heterosexual pleasures, he further disassociates himself from his ‘true’ heterosexual nature. Both gay porn and bestiality are presented as abject; they are not part of the heterosexual desire of the authentic heterosexual self. So, how to stop the cycle of emasculation? Simply put… one has to ‘stop being a little bitch’. The most influential account of the causal relationship between PMO and the emergence of masturbatory subjectivity, which I mainly refer to in the following, is given by Gary Wilson. Attached to the description box, there is a ‘NOTE FROM TED’ (TEDx Talks, 2012) cautioning that ‘the talk contains several assertions that are not supported by academically respected studies in medicine and psychology’ (TEDx Talks, 2012). Nevertheless, Wilson’s talk is of vital importance to NoFap. [Open in database] - The Campaign Against Sex Work in the United States: A Successful Moral Crusade
Weitzer, R. (2019) · Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 1-16
Author summary: This movement became essentially defunct during the Clinton administration in the 1990s but resurged in the 2000s with the election of George W. Bush. In its new iteration, feminist and religious organizations became close partners—interacting frequently, co-sponsoring events, and using some identical language. Their main focal concerns still differ (traditional morality, women’s equality), but these differences have been suspended in their shared commitment to abolish pornography. The former chief of DOJ’s obscenity unit (and later legal counsel for the Family Research Council and for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation), Patrick Trueman. Activists have seized on the porn-as-trafficking trope. Another way in which the perils have been secularized is medicalization of the problem as a public health crisis. In the past few years, sixteen state legislatures have passed resolutions, some unanimously, that blame pornography for a litany of social problems. Utah was the first to do this, and NCOSE helped draft its resolution. It is also the headquarters of the Mormon-founded anti-porn group Fight the New Drug, which associates porn with addiction, drug use, changes in the brain, sex trafficking, ruined love relationships, violence, and other perils. The alleged threats to public health are taken for granted by the Mormon Church. There are many problems with this construction of pornography. The claims are made by fiat, with no supporting evidence provided. [Open in database] - Confessions of an Intellectual Freedom Novice
Duncan, J. (2019) · Journal of Library Administration, 59(7), 786-800 · Design: Legal case report, first-person · Population: Colorado libraries · N: Not applicable
Author summary: A full-scale crusade to ban digital content in Colorado's schools and public libraries was launched by anti-porn groups led by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE). Many libraries removed EBSCO to avoid litigation. One spent $35,000 defending themselves, the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed with prejudice, and the library was never repaid. [Open in database] - Men’s Reasons to Abstain from Masturbation May Not Reflect the Conviction of ‘Reboot’ Websites
Imhoff, R., & Zimmer, F. (2020) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · Design: Letter to the Editor · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Individuals or organizations behind commercial offers (like the community membership offered by NoFap LLC) have legitimate financial stakes and are thus equally legitimately concerned about their vulnerability to defamation campaigns. As they operate in the public sphere, however, we deem it not only as legitimate but necessary to acknowledge and cite them as one prominent voice in the debate around masturbation abstinence—everything else would be an unjustifiable muting of their stand. [Open in database] - Porn and me(n): Sexual morality, objectification, and religion at the Wheelock anti-pornography conference
Boulton, C. (2008) · The Communication Review, 11(3), 247-273 · Design: Participant observation · Population: Feminist anti-porn conference · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Gail Dines opened the conference. Feminists who might have defended pornography as a legitimate form of sexual expression were not invited to speak at the conference. The gathering came across as highly partisan, already convinced that pornography posed a clear and present danger to their collective wellbeing. The atmosphere at Wheelock was, in short, electric—like a spirited revival meeting of true believers. The recruiting and training of slide show presenters was, in fact, the central purpose of the Wheelock conference. The trouble is that the anti-pornography feminists at Wheelock did not offer me any venue for confession, promise of redemption, or even—God forbid—sex education. I went to Wheelock with the intention of openly talking to other men about our sexual desires, but soon realized that this would not be a safe space for such disclosures. [Open in database] - A new diagnosis for old fears? Pathologizing porn in contemporary US discourse
Oeming, M. (2018) · Porn Studies, 5(2), 213-216 · Design: Theoretical · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Besides ostensibly morally motivated religious, conservative, and anti-pornography groups, an immense financially motivated treatment machinery has developed as a driving force and profiteer of the porn addiction discourse. Together they form a powerful lobby across the country that does not hesitate to use any means necessary to silence potentially contradictory research (Prause and Fong 2015, 439). [Open in database] - Porn in church: moral geographies of homosexuality in Uganda
Van Klinken, A., & Zebracki, M. (2016) · Porn Studies, 3(1), 89-92 · Design: History · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: The film fragments, depicting practices such as fisting and what Ssempa calls ‘anal licking’, were presented as an illustration of ‘what homosexuals do in the privacy of their bedroom’ and of what ‘Barack Obama … wants to bring to Africa as a human right’. Widely circulated on YouTube under the title ‘Eat da poo-poo’, the video of Ssempa’s presentation has become an example of the moral and religious politics of homosexuality in Uganda generating worldwide controversy. The Anti-Homosexuality and Anti-Pornography Bills equate homosexuality and pornography, with both being considered to pose serious dangers to individuals, families and communities and to threaten the moral ‘purity’ of the nation. Using pornographic metaphors and imagery, the bills and ensuing campaigns produce a legally grounded physical abhorrence of homosexuals. That is to say, in Ugandan authoritative-legislative discourse, homosexuals have become unnatural and illegal bodies that should be made placeless in the projected ideal image of a Christian nation. [Full text · Open in database] - “Oppression by Orgasm”: Pornography and Antisemitism in Far-Right Discourses in the United States Since the 1970s
Kerl, K. (2020) · Studies in American Jewish Literature, 39(1), 117-138 · Design: History of science · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: The idea that Jews threatened the patriarchal sexual order by spreading “obscene” cultural products and, thus, constituted a threat for white supremacy can be traced back, at least, into the last decades of the nineteenth century and was, of course, not limited to the United States. Nowadays, against the backdrop of intensifying masculinism in general and a growing masculinist anti-porn movement in particular, far-right antisemites try to make use of antipornography to spread antisemitic conspiracy narratives beyond the far right into the mainstream. The struggle for the “remasculinization” of white men by overcoming porn (addiction) had to be an antisemitic one: a fight against “Jewish pornography” and “Jewish filth,” in which other current anti-porn actors such as NoFap should join. [Full text · Open in database] - The development and deployment of the idea of pornography addiction within American evangelicalism
Thomas, J. N. (2016) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 23(2-3), 182-195 · Design: Content analysis · Population: Christianity Today · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Religious persons, and especially conservative religious persons, are motivated to embrace the idea of pornography addiction specifically because it helps relieve them of moral responsibility for their pornography use. Support for this argument can be seen in the fact that among evangelicals, the development and deployment of the idea of pornography addiction directly paralleled evangelicals’ growing concern that pornography use was increasing among them. The timing of this shift is significant because it suggests that the idea of sin was increasingly being perceived as an inadequate explanation for why so many evangelicals were using pornography. In other words, the notion that evangelicals might simply choose to collectively increase their engagement in sexual sin was largely incomprehensible. Rather, something else had to be at work, and the idea of pornography addiction offered just such an explanation. [Open in database] - ‘I want that power back’: Discourses of masculinity within an online pornography abstinence forum
Taylor, K., & Jackson, S. (2018) · Sexualities, 21(4), 621-639 · Design: Content analysis · Population: NoFap forum · N: Not applicable
Author summary: This article examines the ways that men actively construct masculinity within an online pornography-abstinence reddit forum, NoFap. Forum members employ idealized discourses of innate masculinity and the need for ‘real sex’ to justify their resistance to pornography use and masturbation. [Open in database] - Do People in Conservative States Really Watch More Porn? A Hierarchical Analysis
Perry, S. L., & Whitehead, A. L. (2020) · Socius, 6 · Design: Archival data; nationally representative survey · Population: 50 US states; adults · N: 15,738
Author summary: Christian evangelicals who live in more politically conservative states report the highest rates of pornography consumption. This study overcomes limitations of prior search-traffic studies by incorporating state-level data with individual-level data and a measure of pornography consumption from a large nationally representative survey. [Full text · Open in database] - Constructing Pornography Addiction’s Harms in Science, News Media, and Politics
Burke, K., & MillerMacPhee, A. (2020) · Social Forces · Design: Content analysis · Population: Scientific studies, newspaper articles, and state government resolutions · N: 600+ documents
Author summary: Conservative Christian leaders and organizations, which have long opposed pornography on moral grounds, championed the addiction framework. Articles most often mention public figures, who are not neuroscientists of addiction and are instead activists, politicians, religious figures, and therapists. List provided (Table 2): Craig Gross, Michael Leahy, Clay Olsen, Gary Herbert, Jill C. Manning, Pamela Atkinson, Mary Anne Layden, Todd Weiler, Gail Dines, and Robert Weiss. Scientific studies are the least likely sources to support the relationship between pornography addiction and all of these harms, suggesting that journalists and political actors are overextending scientific findings to advance their media markets and political agendas. Compared to newspaper articles and state resolutions, scientific articles were the least likely to support an addiction framework, and we found less support among neuro-physiological research than psycho-social studies. We find that discussions of pornography addiction perpetuate stereotypes about binary gender and (hetero)sexuality using scientific language to legitimize those stereotypes as objective and natural. Perpetuates the stereotype that men have innate and uncontrollable sexual urges. Women, who may be literally excluded from a neuro-physiological study's sample, are then figuratively understood to lack these same sexual desires. [Open in database] - False Witness: Morality in Media and EBSCO
LaRue, J. (2018) · Journal of Intellectual Freedom & Privacy, 2(3-4), 13-19
Author summary: The complainants challenging EBSCO cite and use language from an organization called the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE). But the group may be more familiar by its first name: Morality in Media. Founded in 1962, Morality in Media then described itself as a “faith-based organization”. In 2015, Morality In Media, Inc. changed its name to National Center on Sexual Exploitation “to better describe our scope and mission to expose the seamless connection between all forms of sexual exploitation” (NCOSE 2018a). Another explanation might be that Morality in Media was often dismissed by mainstream media for its overt religious bias. Subsequently, it attempted to recast its image as more research and policy-based. On their site (endsexualexploitation.org), they state, “The term ‘pornography’ is a generic, not a legal term”; “The term ‘obscenity’ is a legal term” (NCOSE 2018c). But in practice, they persistently conflate the two. The 2017 and 2018 Dirty Dozen lists include EBSCO. The American Library Association is on the list, too. NCOSE is but the latest in a string of campaigns to force us back into silence, a silence that always favors the perpetrators of abuse, not those who report it, or who seek new pathways to a more open and honest health. Silence is itself a form of false witness, a pretense, a lie. [Full text · Open in database] - Outsourcing moral authority: The internal secularization of evangelicals’ anti-pornography narratives
Thomas, J. N. (2013) · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 52(3), 457-475 · Design: Content analysis · Population: Christianity Today articles
Author summary: Evangelicals’ anti-pornography narratives have become increasingly secular. Moral narratives may be decreasingly legitimated through religious forms of moral authority such as scriptural prohibitions and derivative ideas about God’s plan for society, and increasingly legitimated through secular forms of moral authority such as humanistic conceptions of individual rights and of psychological health. From the 1980s to the present, evangelicals have become much more likely to articulate their opposition to pornography through either of two secular anti-pornography narratives—both of which, I argue, are largely reproductions of very similar narratives that first developed among other groups and movements. The first of these, what I call the narrative of public-performer harm, reproduces the basic arguments of the feminist anti-pornography movement. The second of these, what I call the narrative of personal-viewer harm, reproduces some of the key concerns of a portion of the psychological community who over the last 20 years have increasingly conceptualized the use of pornography within the language of addiction and of personal psychological harm. I find that evangelicals have reproduced and used these two newer narratives such that their contemporary reliance on them has now largely replaced their historic reliance on the narrative of traditional values. [Full text · Open in database] - Created by God and Wired to Porn: Redemptive Masculinity and Gender Beliefs in Narratives of Religious Men’s Pornography Addiction Recovery
Burke, K., & Haltom, T. M. (2020) · Gender & Society, 34(2), 233-258 · Design: In-depth interviews · Population: Men in "Reboot" programs · N: 35
Author summary: All participants were white. We find that participants use distinct cultural schemas related to religion and science to explain how men are created by God to be biologically “hard-wired” for pornography addiction. We use the phrase redemptive masculinity to describe a type of hybrid masculinity that upholds the cultural association between hegemonic masculinity and pornography consumption, but allows religious men to describe their avoidance of pornography as a masculine feat. Redemptive masculinity depends upon particular beliefs about gender that give advantage to the religious men who work to overcome pornography addiction. We show how their stories reinforce essentialist differences between male and female bodies that protect the interests and sexual expressions of religious men. In turn, we show how hybrid masculinities may involve gender-flexible practices for men but also how these may ultimately reinforce strict and inflexible beliefs about so-called “opposite” sexes. [Full text · Open in database] - Groupthink in Sex and Pornography “Addiction”: Sex-Negativity, Theoretical Impotence, and Political Manipulation
Prause, N., & Williams, D. J. (2020) · In Allen, D., & Howell, J. (Eds.), Groupthink in Science. Springer · Design: Literature review · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Various socially unacceptable sexualities, including homosexuality, followed a similar sociological trajectory attempting to reframe personal and religious values as a public health threat. Mental health practitioners perpetuate these myths due to a longstanding resistance to use research-supported treatments that challenge their current profit model. Finally, the intentional adoption of neuroscience jargon for widespread political manipulation and social control is characterized. [Open in database] - Rethinking coalitions: Anti-pornography feminists, conservatives, and relationships between collaborative adversarial movements
Whittier, N. (2014) · Social Problems, 61(2), 175-193 · Design: Content coding · Population: Legislative hearings
Author summary: I compiled a comprehensive list of relevant hearings using a subject search on Lexis-Nexis and coded them to the witness level. I read all hearings to assemble a comprehensive picture of legislation and testimony and selected several for close analysis based on the appearance of antipornography conservative or feminist witnesses or their substantive importance. In the antipornography case, leaders but not SMOs occasionally cooperated covertly. In the case of pornography, the power and influence of the religious right within the state shaped antipornography feminists’ and conservatives’ relative influence. While antipornography feminists made claims, conservative control of the state kept them as outsiders and limited their outcomes. Antipornography conservatives had more influence via their ties to the Republican-controlled Senate, Presidency, and Justice Department. [Full text · Open in database] - Pornography addiction and the medicalization of free speech
Clarkson, J., & Kopaczewski, S. (2013) · Journal of Communication Inquiry, 37(2), 128-148 · Design: Literature review · Population: Congressional testimony · N: Not applicable
Author summary: The emerging narrative frames pornography use as a biological danger to those who use it in order to maintain traditional moralist fears about the effects of pornography while circumventing more complicated analyses of the role of culture, the importance of free speech, or the limitations of media effects research. [Open in database]
Erectile and other sexual dysfunctions 12 studies
- Is pornography use related to erectile functioning? Results from cross-sectional and latent growth curve analyses
Grubbs, J. B., & Gola, M. (2019) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 16(1), 111-125 · Design: Longitudinal, within-subject · Population: Sexually active US men · N: 433
Author summary: Latent growth curve analyses demonstrated no significant relationships between any pornography-related variables and trajectories of ED. [Open in database] - A lack of association between online pornography exposure, sexual functioning, and mental well-being
Charig, R., Moghaddam, N. G., Dawson, D. L., Merdian, H. L., & Das Nair, R. (2020) · Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 1-24 · Design: Survey · Population: American adults · N: 252
Author summary: Findings do not favour a negative or positive relationship between oSEM and the psychosocial outcomes under examination – oSEM appeared to have a negligible role in individuals’ current sexual functioning and mental well-being. [Open in database] - Sexual Responsivity and the Effects of Negative Mood on Sexual Arousal in Hypersexual Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM)
Janssen, E., Prause, N., Swinburne Romine, R., Raymond, N., MacDonald III, A., Coleman, E., & Miner, M. H. (2020) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · Design: Experiment · Population: Hypersexual men and controls · N: 211
Author summary: We did not find evidence for the notion that hypersexual men, as compared to non-hypersexual men, might show stronger responses to sexual stimuli in the laboratory. Also, we did not find any, general or differential, effects of negative mood on sexual arousal. However, we did find that sexual excitation predicted response levels. This finding is consistent with a growing body of research finding no association between pornography use and erectile function. Also, our results are consistent with those of Steele and colleagues, who found that measures of sexual desire, but not compulsive sexual behavior, predicted brain responses to erotic film. [Open in database] - Trends in Frequency of Sexual Activity and Number of Sexual Partners Among Adults Aged 18 to 44 Years in the US, 2000-2018
Ueda, P., Mercer, C. H., Ghaznavi, C., & Herbenick, D. (2020) · JAMA Network Open, 3(6), e203833 · Design: General Social Survey · Population: Ages 18 to 44 · N: 4,291 men and 5,213 women
Author summary: From 2000 to 2018, sexual inactivity increased among men aged 18 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years and women aged 25 to 34 years. Use of pornographic material was associated with a lower likelihood of sexual inactivity among both men and women. [Full text · Open in database] - Effects of Pornography Use and Demographic Parameters on Sexual Response during Masturbation and Partnered Sex in Women
McNabney, S. M., Hevesi, K., & Rowland, D. L. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(9), 3130 · Design: Survey · Population: Multinational community women · N: 2,433
Author summary: On average, women using pornography were younger, and reported more interest in sex. During masturbation, more frequent pornography use predicted lower arousal difficulty and orgasmic difficulty, greater pleasure, and a higher percentage of masturbatory events leading to orgasm. Pornography use frequency did not predict overall relationship satisfaction or sexual relationship satisfaction. Overall, more frequent pornography use was generally associated with more favorable sexual response outcomes during masturbation, while not affecting most partnered sex parameters. Several demographic and relationship covariates appear to more consistently and strongly predict orgasmic problems during partnered sexual activity than pornography use. [Full text · Open in database] - Evidence for Persistence of Sexual Evaluative Learning Effects
Both, S., Brom, M., Laan, E., Everaerd, W., & Spinhoven, P. (2020) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · Design: Experimental · Population: Men and women · N: 66
Author summary: No evidence was found for conditioned genital sexual response. [Open in database] - Survey of Sexual Function and Pornography
Berger, J. H., Kehoe, J. E., Doan, A. P., Crain, D. S., Klam, W. P., Marshall, M. T., & Christman, M. S. (2019) · Military Medicine · Design: Survey · Population: 20–40-year-old men and women presenting to a urology clinic
Author summary: There was no association between the International Index of Erectile Function and craving for, or obsessive passion for, pornography. No correlation was found between any variables and female sexual dysfunction. [Open in database] - Is pornography use associated with sexual difficulties and dysfunctions among younger heterosexual men?
Landripet, I., & Štulhofer, A. (2015) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12(5), 1136-1139 · Design: Online survey · Population: Croatian, Norwegian, and Portuguese men · N: 3,948
Author summary: We found little evidence of the association between pornography use and male sexual health disturbances. Contrary to raising public concerns, pornography does not seem to be a significant risk factor for younger men's desire, erectile, or orgasmic difficulties. [Open in database] - Erectile dysfunction, boredom, and hypersexuality among coupled men from two European countries
Klein, V., Jurin, T., Briken, P., & Štulhofer, A. (2015) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12(11), 2160-2167 · Design: Online survey · Population: Croatian and German men in romantic relationships · N: 1,121
Author summary: In the present study, the influence of erectile problems on problematic hypersexual behavior associated with an impairment in psychosocial functioning was assessed and cannot be simply equated with frequent pornography consumption. Therefore, it is important to note that in general no empirical studies exist that demonstrated a link between pornography consumption and sexual problems. [Open in database] - Viewing sexual stimuli associated with greater sexual responsiveness, not erectile dysfunction
Prause, N., & Pfaus, J. (2015) · Sexual Medicine, 3(2), 90-98 · Design: Experiment · Population: Adult males · N: 280
Author summary: VSS use within the range of hours tested is unlikely to negatively impact sexual functioning, given that responses actually were stronger in those who viewed more VSS. [Full text · Open in database] - Patient characteristics by type of hypersexuality referral: A quantitative chart review of 115 consecutive male cases
Sutton, K. S., Stratton, N., Pytyck, J., Kolla, N. J., & Cantor, J. M. (2015) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 41(6), 563-580 · Design: Chart review · Population: Hypersexuality referral patients · N: 115
Author summary: The finding of delayed ejaculation, rather than erectile dysfunction as the primary reported complaint is also interesting in the context of the popular media hype that pornography viewing is linked with erectile dysfunction. Although there are clinical accounts and emotionally charged media and self-help sites propagating this belief (e.g., The Doctor Oz Show, January 31, 2013; James & O’Shea, March 30, 2014; yourbrainonporn.com), there are no data to support the notion that pornography viewing causes erectile dysfunction. [Open in database] - Seksuele gezondheid in Nederland 2017 [Sexual health in the Netherlands 2017]
De Graaf, H., & Wijsen, C. (2017) · Rutgers · Design: Nationally representative survey · Population: Age 18-80 · N: 17,000
Author summary: For most people, watching porn does not replace or hinder sex with a partner. In fact, people who watch porn more often also have sex with a partner more often. Porn viewing in the last six months was not related to sexual problems. [Full text]
Attitudes toward women and sexual aggression 10 studies
- EXPOsing Men's Gender Role Attitudes as Porn Superfans
Jackson, C. A., Baldwin, A., Brents, B. G., & Maginn, P. J. (2019) · Sociological Forum · Design: Survey · Population: Men at the Adult Entertainment Expo · N: 1,157
Author summary: “Porn superfans” are no more sexist or misogynistic than the general U.S. public on two of the four measures (women in politics and women in the general workplace) and held more progressive gender-role attitudes than the general public on the other two measures (working mothers and traditional gender roles in the family). Our results call into question some of the claims that porn consumption fosters de facto negative and hostile attitudes toward women. [Open in database] - Does Pornography Presuppose Rape Myths?
Heck, R. K. (2020) · PhilPapers · Design: Article review · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Accounts of how pornography silences women are empirically dubious. There is no evidence that very much pornography makes the sorts of presuppositions they require. [Full text · Open in database] - Women Like Being Valued for Sex, as Long as it is by a Committed Partner
Meltzer, A. L., McNulty, J. K., & Maner, J. K. (2017) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(2), 475–488 · Design: Survey · Population: Newly married heterosexual couples · N: Study 1 = 109; Study 2 = 99
Author summary: In Study 1 (N = 109), husbands' sexual valuation was positively associated with marital satisfaction among wives who perceived that those husbands were highly committed, but negatively associated with marital satisfaction among wives who perceived that those husbands were relatively less committed. Study 2 (N = 99) revealed the same pattern for wives (but not husbands) using a likely manifestation of sexual valuation—engaging in frequent sex. These findings join others to demonstrate that interpersonal processes do not have universally positive or negative implications for relationships; rather, their implications depend on the context in which they occur. [Open in database] - Are Playboy (and girl) Norms Behind the Relationship Problems Associated with Pornography Viewing in Men and Women?
Borgogna, N. C., Smith, T., McDermott, R. C., & Whatley, M. (2020) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 1–17 · Design: Online survey · Population: Men · N: 520
Author summary: Controlling for pornography viewing frequency, religious identity, and sexual orientation, structural equation modeling revealed power over women and playboy norms as associated with increased problematic pornography viewing, while emotional control and winning norms were negatively related to problematic pornography viewing. Men’s pornography viewing may be tied to their expressions of traditional masculinity. Additionally, men with low self-esteem may be especially drawn to pornography, potentially as a way of overconforming to and performing certain male role norms. [Open in database] - Testing the Confluence Model of the Association between Pornography Use and Sexual Aggression: A Longitudinal Assessment in Two Independent Adolescent Samples
Kohut, T., Landripet, I., & Štulhofer, A. (2019) · PsyArXiv preprint · Design: Longitudinal panel · Population: High school adolescents in Croatia · N: 936
Author summary: We found no evidence that impersonal sexuality and pornography use increased the odds of subsequently reporting sexual aggression—regardless of participants’ predisposed risk. This study’s findings are difficult to reconcile with the view that pornography use plays a causal role in male sexual violence. [Full text · Open in database] - The objectification of women in mainstream pornographic videos in Australia
McKee, A. (2005) · Journal of Sex Research, 42(4), 277-290 · Design: Content coding · Population: Bestselling pornographic videos in Australia · N: 50 films
Author summary: We note the wide range of sexual acts that are included—the genre is not as ‘phallocentric’ as some of its critics fear in the sense of defining sex only as penile intromission in the vagina. 1.9% of scenes featured violence. We have found data that is relevant to ongoing concerns in the literature that pornography degrades or dehumanizes female characters, either through dominance or through a specific form of objectification that denies human agency. It seems clear from our data that in mainstream pornographic videos in Australia this is not the case. Women are not objectified in this genre more than men. [Full text · Open in database] - Sex, guys, and cyberspace: Effects of internet pornography and individual differences on men's attitudes toward women
Barak, A., Fisher, W. A., Belfry, S., & Lashambe, D. R. (1999) · Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 11(1), 63-91 · Design: Two experiments · Population: Men · N: 58
Author summary: The results of two separate studies failed to show any detectable relationship between differential and substantial exposure to Internet pornography and men’s attitudes toward women, acceptance of women as managers, the likelihood of sexual harassment, or rape myth acceptance. This is the first controlled study in the literature to address Internet pornography. [Open in database] - Is pornography really about “making hate to women”? Pornography users hold more gender-egalitarian attitudes than non-users in a representative American sample
Kohut, T., Baer, J. L., & Watts, B. (2016) · The Journal of Sex Research, 53(1), 1-11 · Design: Secondary analysis (General Social Survey) · Population: American men and women · N: 25,047
Author summary: Pornography users held more egalitarian attitudes—toward women in positions of power, toward women working outside the home, and toward abortion—than nonusers of pornography. Further, pornography users and pornography nonusers did not differ significantly in their attitudes toward the traditional family and in their self-identification as feminist. [Open in database] - Pornography consumption, sexual liberalism, and support for abortion in the United States: Aggregate results from two national panel studies
Wright, P. J., & Tokunaga, R. S. (2018) · Media Psychology, 21(1), 75-92 · Design: Nationally representative panel survey · Population: American men and women
Author summary: As hypothesized, pornography consumption at wave one predicted a more liberal sexual script at wave two, which, in turn, predicted more support for abortion at wave three. [Full text · Open in database] - Extreme concern: Regulating ‘dangerous pictures’ in the United Kingdom
Attwood, F., & Smith, C. (2010) · Journal of Law and Society, 37(1), 171-188 · Design: Review · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Women are positioned as incompetent readers of media texts, complicit with patriarchy… if they do not adopt the 'correct, disciplined reading' of porn presented by anti-porn experts. We fundamentally reject the impulse to legislate based on a backward approach to… a social phenomenon [violence against women] sufficiently serious to warrant proper research into… those who abuse women. Rather than address the particular structural factors and material realities that contribute to women's risk of a violent attack and men's propensities to violence, the current political and legal climate seeks to demonize sexually explicit media for these crimes. [Open in database]
Self-regulation, shame and treatment 13 studies
- Conscious regulation of sexual arousal in men
Winters, J., Christoff, K., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2009) · Journal of Sex Research, 46(4), 330-343 · Design: Laboratory · Population: Men · N: 49
Author summary: Age, sexual experience, and sexual compulsivity were unrelated to sexual arousal regulation. Conversely, sexual excitation, inhibition, and desire correlated with sexual arousal regulation success. Increased sexual excitation and desire were associated with poorer regulatory performance, whereas a propensity for sexual inhibition due to fear of performance consequences was related to regulatory success. [Full text · Open in database] - Abstinence or Acceptance? A Case Series of Men’s Experiences With an Intervention Addressing Self-Perceived Problematic Pornography Use
Sniewski, L., & Farvid, P. (2019) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 26(3-4), 191-210 · Design: Case series · Population: Men seeking to reduce porn use · N: 6
Author summary: Self-acceptance and acceptance of pornography use may represent intervention goals that are more realistic, practical, and attainable than abstinence. [Full text · Open in database] - Pornography, religiosity, and social work
Droubay, B. A., & Butters, R. P. (2019) · Journal of Social Work · Design: Survey · Population: Social work students · N: 136
Author summary: Highly religious students rated pornography more addictive on average. Of particular concern is that practitioners’ values might lead to over-pathologizing behavior and labeling it as addictive. This is significant in that addiction is a heavy label that may harm clients. [Open in database] - Mental health professionals’ pathologization of compulsive sexual behavior: Does clients’ gender and sexual orientation matter?
Klein, V., Briken, P., Schröder, J., & Fuss, J. (2019) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 128(5), 465 · Design: Survey · Population: Mental health professionals treating compulsive sexuality · N: 546
Author summary: Clinical decisions relating to compulsive sexual behavior are influenced by nosologically irrelevant beliefs about the biological causation of sexual behavior. [Open in database] - The effect of a primary sexual reward manipulation on cortisol responses to psychosocial stress in men
Creswell, J. D., Pacilio, L. E., Denson, T. F., & Satyshur, M. (2013) · Psychosomatic Medicine, 75(4), 397-403 · Design: Experiment · Population: Men · N: 54
Author summary: Participants who viewed pornography had significantly lower area-under-the-curve cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test in comparison with participants in the control group. Participants who viewed pornography also had improved cognitive performance on the math portion of the TSST in comparison with control participants who viewed neutral images. The stress-buffering effects of pornography were specific to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity: the porn-viewing and neutral-viewing groups did not differ on psychological perceptions of anticipatory or post-stress perceptions, heart rate, or blood pressure responses. [Full text · Open in database] - Sexual desire, not hypersexuality, predicts self-regulation of sexual arousal
Moholy, M., Prause, N., Proudfit, G. H., Rahman, A. S., & Fong, T. (2015) · Cognition and Emotion, 29(8), 1505-1516 · Design: Experiment · Population: Men and women · N: 116
Author summary: Higher levels of desire for sex with a partner consistently predicted failures to downregulate sexual arousal. Hypersexuality was unrelated. These findings replicate Winters et al.'s study and extend their findings by including upregulation, women, a new measure of hypersexuality, and a higher-trial design. [Full text · Open in database] - Nosology and metaphor: How pornography viewers make sense of pornography addiction
Taylor, K. (2019) · Sexualities · Design: Survey and qualitative interviews · Population: Ages ranging from 15 to 83 · N: 213
Author summary: It is worth considering whether the apparent epidemic of self-diagnosed pornography addicts seeking help today perhaps represents the ready uptake of a relatively new way to describe one’s problematic behavior and not the development of a modern disease entity whose description should dictate its treatment. [Open in database] - A Randomized Controlled Study of Group-Administered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hypersexual Disorder in Men
Hallberg, J., Kaldo, V., Arver, S., Dhejne, C., Jokinen, J., & Öberg, K. G. (2019) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · Design: Randomized controlled trial · Population: Men seeking treatment · N: 137
Author summary: A significantly greater decrease in hypersexual symptoms (e.g., number of times the respondent has had orgasm) and sexual compulsivity, as well as significantly greater improvements in psychiatric well-being, were found for the treatment condition compared with the waitlist. These effects remained stable at 3 and 6 months after treatment. [Full text · Open in database] - Neural correlates of conscious self-regulation of emotion
Beauregard, M., Lévesque, J., & Bourgouin, P. (2001) · The Journal of Neuroscience, 21(18), RC165 · Design: Experiment, fMRI · Population: Men · N: 10
Author summary: Sexual arousal experienced, in response to the erotic film excerpts, was associated with activation in "limbic" and paralimbic structures, such as the right amygdala, right anterior temporal pole, and hypothalamus. In addition, the attempted inhibition of the sexual arousal generated by viewing the erotic stimuli was associated with activation of the right superior frontal gyrus and right anterior cingulate gyrus. No activation was found in limbic areas. [Open in database] - Understanding associations between personal definitions of pornography, using pornography, and depression
Willoughby, B. J., Busby, D. M., & Young-Petersen, B. (2018) · Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 1-15 · Design: Online survey · Population: Adults · N: 1,639
Author summary: Less acceptance of pornography was associated with avoiding content one deemed pornographic. Viewing sexual material that the participant did not consider pornography was consistently associated with more depressive symptoms. Internal views of pornography appear to be key factors that are associated with varying viewing and usage patterns and suggest that such views may create at least two very different groups when it comes to viewing pornography; one that is actively trying to avoid such content and one that is actively seeking it out. [Open in database] - God, I can’t stop thinking about sex! The rebound effect in unsuccessful suppression of sexual thoughts among religious adolescents
Efrati, Y. (2018) · The Journal of Sex Research, 1-10 · Design: Series cross-sectional · Population: Israeli adolescents · N: 1,500
Author summary: Religious adolescents are higher in CSB than secular ones, and sexual suppression and CSB mediate the link between religiosity and well-being. [Open in database] - Affection substitution: The effect of pornography consumption on close relationships
Hesse, C., & Floyd, K. (2019) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · Design: Longitudinal · Population: Adults · N: 357
Author summary: There is no evidence of [porn] consumption being either adaptive or maladaptive when it comes to relationship satisfaction, closeness, and loneliness. [Full text · Open in database] - Documenting pornography use in America: A comparative analysis of methodological approaches
Regnerus, M., Gordon, D., & Price, J. (2016) · The Journal of Sex Research, 53(7), 873-881 · Design: Methods review · Population: Age 18-39 · N: Not applicable
Author summary: When we privileged the most-recent-use approach, survey data from 2014 reveal that 46% of men and 16% of women between the ages of 18 and 39 intentionally viewed pornography in a given week. These numbers are notably higher than most previous population estimates employing different types of questions. [Open in database]
Love, intimacy and couple relationships 16 studies
- Does exposure to erotica reduce attraction and love for romantic partners in men? Independent replications of Kenrick, Gutierres, and Goldberg (1989) study 2
Balzarini, R. N., Dobson, K., Chin, K., & Campbell, L. (2017) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 70, 191-197 · Design: Preregistered experiment; replications; meta-analysis · Population: USA men and women · N: 830
Author summary: We did not find support for the original finding that exposure to attractive images of opposite-sex others affects males' ratings of their partners' sexual attractiveness or love for their partner. [Open in database] - Does Low-Cost Sexual Gratification Make Men Less Eager to Marry? Pornography Use, Masturbation, Hookup Sex, and Desire to be Married among Single Men
Perry, S. L. (2020) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · Design: Nationally representative surveys · Population: Unmarried adult men · N: N = 349; N = 1,402
Author summary: Using data from two nationally representative surveys of American adults (2012 New Family Structures Study; 2014 Relationships in America Survey), the current study tested the thesis that unmarried men’s pornography use, masturbation habits, or frequency of recent hookup sex would be associated with a lower likelihood of them finding marriage desirable. Masturbation and hookup sex were not associated with unmarried men wishing to be married, while pornography use was robustly and linearly associated with a higher likelihood of wanting to be married. [Open in database] - The Moderating Influence of Moral Disapproval of Pornography on Couples’ Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction
Floyd, C. G., Landa, S., Saunders, M. A., & Volk, F. (2020) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 1-23 · Design: Online questionnaires · Population: Adults · N: 493
Author summary: Findings suggest that pornography use amongst those who morally disapprove of its use is associated with increased sexual shame, which is associated with decreased sexual satisfaction, leading to subsequent reductions in couple satisfaction. Results expand upon the branch of pornography literature suggesting that the association between pornography use and adverse intra- and interpersonal consequences are conditioned on the degree to which users morally disapprove of their use. [Open in database] - Pornography use: Who uses it and how it is associated with couple outcomes
Poulsen, F. O., Busby, D. M., & Galovan, A. M. (2013) · Journal of Sex Research, 50(1), 72-83 · Design: Survey · Population: Adult men and women · N: 617 couples
Author summary: Female pornography use was positively associated with female sexual quality. [Full text · Open in database] - What keeps passion alive? Sexual satisfaction is associated with sexual communication, mood setting, sexual variety, oral sex, orgasm, and sex frequency in a national US study
Frederick, D. A., Lever, J., Gillespie, B. J., & Garcia, J. R. (2017) · The Journal of Sex Research, 54(2), 186-201 · Design: Survey · Population: Cohabiting or married men and women · N: 38,747
Author summary: Men and women who viewed porn with their partner were more likely to report higher sexual satisfaction. Sexual satisfaction and maintenance of passion were higher among people who had sex most frequently, received more oral sex, had more consistent orgasms, and incorporated more variety of sexual acts, mood setting, and sexual communication. [Full text · Open in database] - The Desire for Porn and Partner?: Investigating the Role of Scripts in Affectionate Communication, Sexual Desire, and Pornography Consumption and Guilt in Young Adults’ Romantic Relationships
Bennett, M., LoPresti, B. J., McGloin, R., & Denes, A. (2019) · Western Journal of Communication, 1-21 · Design: Survey · Population: Porn viewers in romantic relationships · N: 111
Author summary: The results also revealed that pornography consumption was not significantly associated with sexual desire for one’s partner. Such a finding is important, as it reinforces recent research that shows that pornography has minimal effects in modern romantic relationships. Pornography consumption had no significant effect on sexual desire for one’s partner, though feelings of guilt regarding pornography use negatively predicted sexual desire. These findings provide support for affection exchange theory by reinforcing that trait affection acts as a significant predictor of prosocial qualities, such as sexual desire, which ultimately contribute to relationship satisfaction. [Open in database] - Effect of pornography on married couples
Gaber, M. A., Khaled, H. N., & Nassar, M. M. (2019) · Menoufia Medical Journal, 32(3), 1025-1029 · Design: Survey · Population: Married men and women age 20 to 50 · N: 300
Author summary: 46.2% of pornography watchers said that coital likelihood is higher on viewing days. 53.1% of watchers said it increased their sex drive for their partner. 56.2% of watchers said porn increased their lubrication. [Open in database] - Does Pornography Use Reduce Marriage Entry During Early Adulthood? Findings from a Panel Study of Young Americans
Perry, S. L., & Longest, K. C. (2019) · Sexuality & Culture, 23(2), 394-414 · Design: Panel survey · Population: Americans from teenage to young adult · N: 1,691
Author summary: Among men, higher frequency pornography viewers were not significantly different from non-viewers in their likelihood of marriage entry. Women’s pornography use was statistically unrelated to their likelihood of marriage by Wave 4. Contrary to our expectations, religious commitment did not moderate the link between frequent pornography consumption and marriage entry for either men or women. [Full text · Open in database] - When sex primes love: Subliminal sexual priming motivates relationship goal pursuit
Gillath, O., Mikulincer, M., Birnbaum, G. E., & Shaver, P. R. (2008) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(8), 1057-1069 · Design: Experiment · Population: College students · N: 181 (Study 1), 197 (Study 2), 78 (Study 3), 100 (Study 4), 68 (Study 5)
Author summary: Overall, the five studies provide consistent support for the general idea that exposure to a sexual stimulus motivates people to initiate and maintain close relationships. As expected, sexual priming led to greater willingness to self-disclose and sacrifice for one’s partner or relationship, greater accessibility of intimacy-related thoughts, and greater preference for positive over negative conflict-resolution strategies. [Full text · Open in database] - Perceived consequences of casual online sexual activities on heterosexual relationships: A U.S. online survey
Grov, C., Gillespie, B. J., Royce, T., & Lever, J. (2011) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40(2), 429-439 · Design: Online survey · Population: Internet users · N: 8,376
Author summary: Unsurprisingly, viewing adult websites with a partner in order to enhance sexual arousal was positively associated with positive consequences and inversely associated with negative consequences. Men were significantly more likely to endorse positive feelings around their partner’s online adult materials, including being “interested to learn more about what excites my partner” (50.8% vs. 34.9%, V = .16) and being “turned on by what I saw” (37.7% vs. 19.6%, V = .20). Men were significantly more likely than women to indicate they had sex more often (15.3% vs. 12.8%, V = .03) and to indicate that either one or both partners view online sexual materials alone for the purposes of enhancing arousal (17.1% vs. 14.8%, V = .03), and both these associations remained significant in multivariate modeling. Also of interest was the lack of gender differences on some variables, whereby sizeable proportions of men (22.9%) and women (23.8%) indicated adult websites helped them become more open to “doing new things,” and more than 1 in 5 men and women reported “It’s easier to talk about what we want sexually.” In addition, sizeable proportions of women (17.1%) and men (14.9%) reported viewing adult websites with their partner in order to enhance sexual arousal. [Full text · Open in database] - A profile of pornography users in Australia: Findings from the second Australian Study of Health and Relationships
Rissel, C., Richters, J., de Visser, R. O., McKee, A., Yeung, A., & Caruana, T. (2017) · The Journal of Sex Research, 54(2), 227-240 · Design: Nationally representative survey · Population: Australian men and women · N: 20,094
Author summary: Very few respondents reported that they were addicted to pornography (men 4%, women 1%), and of those who said they were addicted about half also reported that using pornography had had a bad effect on them. Looking at pornographic material appears to be reasonably common in Australia, with adverse effects reported by a small minority. [Open in database] - Pornography’s associations with open sexual communication and relationship closeness vary as a function of dyadic patterns of pornography use within heterosexual relationships
Kohut, T., Balzarini, R. N., Fisher, W. A., & Campbell, L. (2018) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35(4), 655-676 · Design: Nationally representative; preregistered; cross-sectional · Population: USA married couples · N: 200 couples (n = 400)
Author summary: Links between pornography use and relationship health are largely a function of different patterns of pornography use within couples. [Open in database] - A dyadic approach to pornography use and relationship satisfaction among heterosexual couples: The role of pornography acceptance and anxious attachment
Maas, M. K., Vasilenko, S. A., & Willoughby, B. J. (2018) · The Journal of Sex Research, 55(6), 772-782 · Design: Cross-sectional · Population: Heterosexual matched-pair couples · N: 6,626
Author summary: For men who are more accepting of pornography, more pornography use is associated with more relationship satisfaction; however, for men who are less accepting of pornography, more pornography use is associated with less relationship satisfaction. There was little difference in relationship satisfaction at differing levels of pornography use for women who are high in pornography acceptance. For women who are low in pornography acceptance, pornography use is associated with less relationship satisfaction. [Open in database] - Perceived effects of pornography on the couple relationship: Initial findings of open-ended, participant-informed, “bottom-up” research
Kohut, T., Fisher, W. A., & Campbell, L. (2017) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(2), 585-602 · Design: Open-ended survey · Population: Men and women in heterosexual relationships · N: 430
Author summary: In the current sample of respondents, “no negative effects” was the most commonly reported impact of pornography use. Among remaining responses, positive perceived effects of pornography use on couple members and their relationship (e.g., improved sexual communication, more sexual experimentation, enhanced sexual comfort) were reported frequently; negative perceived effects of pornography (e.g., unrealistic expectations, decreased sexual interest in partner, increased insecurity) were also reported, albeit with considerably less frequency. [Open in database] - Erotica viewing effects on intimate relationships and self/partner evaluations
Staley, C., & Prause, N. (2013) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42(4), 615-624 · Design: Experiment · Population: Adult heterosexual established couples · N: 88
Author summary: Participants viewing both the erotic and exciting films reported equivalent increases in excitement; however, the erotic film was rated as slightly more generally arousing and increased participants’ desire to be close to their current partner. [Open in database] - Viewing sexually-explicit materials alone or together: Associations with relationship quality
Maddox, A. M., Rhoades, G. K., & Markman, H. J. (2011) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40(2), 441-448 · Design: Cross-sectional · Population: Adults in relationships · N: 1,291
Author summary: Those who viewed SEM only with their partners reported more dedication and higher sexual satisfaction than those who viewed SEM alone. [Full text · Open in database]
Models of hypersexuality and “porn addiction” 23 studies
- Serial neurochemical measurement of cerebrospinal fluid during the human sexual response cycle
Krüger, T. H., Schiffer, B., Eikermann, M., Haake, P., Gizewski, E., & Schedlowski, M. (2006) · European Journal of Neuroscience, 24(12), 3445-3452 · Design: Experiment · Population: Adult men · N: 20
Author summary: Parallel to raised peripheral sympathetic activity, norepinephrine also increased in CSF during audiovisual, masturbation-induced sexual arousal and orgasm, and remained elevated for the remainder of the session. In contrast, none of the other measures, in particular prolactin and dopamine or its metabolites, reflected significant alteration. [Open in database] - High-frequency pornography use may not always be problematic
Bőthe, B., Tóth-Király, I., Potenza, M. N., Orosz, G., & Demetrovics, Z. (2020) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 17(4), 793-811 · Design: Online questionnaires; latent profile analysis · Population: Non-clinical adults · N: Study 1: N = 14,006; Study 2: N = 483; Study 3: N = 672 (15,161 total)
Author summary: Results were consistent across all studies. Three distinct pornography-use profiles emerged: nonproblematic low-frequency pornography use (68–73% of individuals), nonproblematic high-frequency pornography use (19–29% of individuals), and problematic high-frequency use (3–8% of individuals). Nonproblematic and problematic high-frequency-use groups showed differences in several constructs (i.e., hypersexuality, depressive symptoms, boredom susceptibility, self-esteem, uncomfortable feelings regarding pornography, and basic psychological needs). Frequency of porn use should not be considered as a sufficient or reliable indicator of problem porn use because the number of people with nonproblematic high-frequency use was 3–6 times higher than that with problematic high-frequency use. [Open in database] - Addiction or Transgression? Moral Incongruence and Self-Reported Problematic Pornography Use in a Nationally Representative Sample
Grubbs, J. B., Lee, B. N., Hoagland, K. C., Kraus, S. W., & Perry, S. L. (2020) · Clinical Psychological Science · Design: Survey · Population: Nationally representative US adults · N: 2,519
Author summary: Religiousness moderated the association between pornography use and self-reported addiction so that, despite a negative association between religiousness and use, at higher levels of religiousness, pornography use was more strongly related to self-reports of addiction. [Full text · Open in database] - Sexual Addiction 25 Years On: A Systematic and Methodological Review of Empirical Literature on Compulsive Sexual Behavior and an Agenda for Future Research
Grubbs, J. B., Hoagland, K. C., Lee, B. N., Grant, J. T., Davison, P. M., Reid, R. C., & Kraus, S. W. (2020) · Clinical Psychology Review · Design: Systematic literature review · Population: Published papers · N: 333 papers
Author summary: The present review finds a virtual absence of high-quality treatment-related research. One of the current challenges is drawing the clear distinction between addiction, impulsivity, and compulsivity. There is also considerable evidence that many people may interpret their sexual behaviors as addictive, compulsive, or out-of-control, even when their behaviors do not objectively appear to be dysregulated or clinically impairing. [Full text · Open in database] - Moral incongruence and compulsive sexual behavior: Results from cross-sectional interactions and parallel growth curve analyses
Grubbs, J. B., Kraus, S. W., Perry, S. L., Lewczuk, K., & Gola, M. (2020) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129(3), 266-278 · Design: Longitudinal survey · Population: American men · N: Sample 1, N = 467; Sample 2, N = 739; Sample 3, N = 1,461
Author summary: Moral incongruence was a substantive and robust predictor of self-reported compulsivity. Trajectories of pornography use, self-reported compulsivity, and moral disapproval of such use covaried together over time. Collectively, these results underscore the contention that personal morality may influence individuals’ self-perceptions of their sexual behaviors, which, in turn, may complicate efforts to accurately diagnose compulsive sexual behavior disorder. [Open in database] - Cardiovascular and psychopathological factors among non-sexually compulsive, sexually compulsive, and hypersexual individuals in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Scanavino, M. D. T., Ventuneac, A., Caramelli, B., Naufal, L., Santos Filho, C. S. D., Nisida, I. V., … & Parsons, J. T. (2020) · Psychology, Health & Medicine, 25(1), 121-129 · Design: Laboratory (non-experimental) · Population: Non-sexually compulsive, sexually compulsive, and hypersexual men · N: 211
Author summary: A surprising finding of our study was the negative association of sexual compulsivity with heart disease risk. This may be due to the low and moderate physical activity benefits of more sexual activity. [Open in database] - Normal Testosterone but Higher Luteinizing Hormone Plasma Levels in Men With Hypersexual Disorder
Chatzittofis, A., Boström, A. E., Öberg, K. G., Flanagan, J. N., Schiöth, H. B., Arver, S., & Jokinen, J. (2020) · Sexual Medicine · Design: Assay (non-experimental) · Population: Hypersexual men · N: 67
Author summary: "Hypersexual" men do not have different testosterone, SHBG, prolactin, or FSH. The only difference was LH. Recent sexual activity might be a possible confounder by maintaining hormone levels as we did not control for latest sexual activity. [Open in database] - Pornography, permissiveness, and sex differences: An evaluation of social learning and evolutionary explanations
Wright, P. J., & Vangeel, L. (2019) · Personality and Individual Differences, 143, 128-138 · Design: Cross-sectional survey · Population: 18+ representative US population · N: 21,517
Author summary: Given that sexual encounters in pornography are consistently and overtly permissive, a basic sexual scripting perspective on human sexuality would posit that people who view these scripts would develop an approach to sexuality that is more permissive than people who do not view these scripts. Small to moderate correlations between pornography consumption and permissiveness were reliably found for both males and females. Pornography did not render men and women equivalent, and where there were discrepancies, actually exacerbated men's usual higher degree of permissiveness. [Open in database] - To What Extent Do Erotic Images Elicit Visuospatial versus Cognitive Attentional Processes? Consistent Support for a (Non-Spatial) Sexual Content-Induced Delay
Imhoff, R., Barker, P., & Schmidt, A. F. (2019) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1-20 · Design: Experiment · Population: Adult men and women · N: 399
Author summary: We found no evidence in support of visuospatial attention capture but reliably observed an unspecific delay of responding for trials in which erotic images appeared (irrespective of cue location). This SCID is equally large for heterosexual men and women and reliably associated with their self-reported sexual excitability. [Open in database] - Sexual desire, not hypersexuality, is related to neurophysiological responses elicited by sexual images
Steele, V. R., Staley, C., Fong, T., & Prause, N. (2013) · Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology, 3(1), 20770 · Design: Neuroscience experiment (EEG) · Population: Men and women screened for substance use and other mental health issues · N: 52
Author summary: Larger P300 amplitude differences to pleasant sexual stimuli, relative to neutral stimuli, was negatively related to measures of sexual desire, but not related to measures of hypersexuality. [Full text · Open in database] - Religiosity, developmental context, and sexual shame in pornography users: A serial mediation model
Volk, F., Thomas, J., Sosin, L., Jacob, V., & Moen, C. (2016) · Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 23(2-3), 244-259 · Design: Survey · Population: Adults · N: 358
Author summary: Sexual shame is an unintended outcome of pornography use for religious users. [Open in database] - Sex Differences, Sex Experience, Sex Guilt, and Explicitly Sexual Films
Mosher, D. L. (1973) · Journal of Social Issues, 29(3), 95-112 · Design: Experiment · Population: College students · N: 377
Author summary: Females, high sex-guilt subjects, and less sexually experienced subjects rated the films as more pornographic, disgusting, and offensive. High guilt subjects saw the oral-genital sex as abnormal. [Open in database] - The impact of computer variables on the viewing and sending of sexually explicit material on the Internet: Testing Cooper's "Triple-A Engine"
Byers, L. J., Menzies, K. S., & O'Grady, W. L. (2004) · The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 13(3/4), 157 · Design: Survey · Population: Undergraduate students · N: 443
Author summary: Access measured by skill level and anonymity measured objectively and subjectively made no difference in the time spent on sexually explicit material on the Internet. Our study suggests that the "Triple-A Engine" is not producing sexual change and thus is not powering a sexual revolution. - Sexual Desire, Mood, Attachment Style, Impulsivity, and Self-Esteem as Predictive Factors for Addictive Cybersex
Varfi, N., Rothen, S., Jasiowka, K., Lepers, T., Bianchi-Demichelli, F., & Khazaal, Y. (2019) · JMIR Mental Health, 6(1), e9978 · Design: Survey · Population: Men · N: 145
Author summary: Impulsivity and cybersex addiction were not significantly associated in our study. Self-esteem had no impact on CIUS scores. Cybersex is influenced by an avoidant attachment style, depressive mood, and sexual desire [and being] male. [Full text · Open in database] - Compulsive sexual behavior disorder in obsessive–compulsive disorder: Prevalence and associated comorbidity
Fuss, J., Briken, P., Stein, D. J., & Lochner, C. (2019) · Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 8(2), 242-248 · Design: Survey · Population: Adult outpatients with current OCD · N: 539
Author summary: This finding supports conceptualization of CSBD as a compulsive–impulsive disorder, but not with disorders due to substance use or addictive behaviors. [Full text · Open in database] - Hypersexuality and high sexual desire: Exploring the structure of problematic sexuality
Carvalho, J., Štulhofer, A., Vieira, A. L., & Jurin, T. (2015) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12(6), 1356-1367 · Design: Online survey · Population: Croatian adults · N: 4,597
Author summary: Our study supports the distinctiveness of hypersexuality and high sexual desire/activity, suggesting that problematic sexuality might be more associated with the perceived lack of personal control over sexuality and moralistic attitudes than with high levels of sexual desire and activity. [Full text · Open in database] - Is Nothing Sacred? Religion, Sex, and Reproductive Strategies
Moon, J. W., Krems, J. A., Cohen, A. B., & Kenrick, D. T. (2019) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · Design: Review · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Several large data sets now suggest a reverse causal arrow—people’s preferred mating strategies determining their attraction toward, or repulsion from, religion. Distrust of nonreligious individuals is almost completely erased by knowledge that they are following a restricted monogamous lifestyle. Thus, reproductive strategies often underlie apparently sacred concerns. [Open in database] - Dysregulated sexuality and high sexual desire: Distinct constructs?
Winters, J., Christoff, K., & Gorzalka, B. B. (2010) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(5), 1029-1043 · Design: Survey · Population: Men and women · N: 14,369
Author summary: Dysregulated sexuality, as currently conceptualized, labelled, and measured, may simply be a marker of high sexual desire and the distress associated with managing a high degree of sexual thoughts, feelings, and needs. [Open in database] - Prause et al. (2015) the latest falsification of addiction predictions
Prause, N., Steele, V. R., Staley, C., Sabatinelli, D., & Hajcak, G. (2016) · Biological Psychology, 120, 159-161 · Design: Letter to the editor / review · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Taken together, our choice to use sexual images as cues is appropriate, because they do not constitute the consummatory phase. We agree that the failure of this literature in general to recognize that sex film viewing is almost always occurring with masturbation remains a major oversight and likely indicates a doubly inaccurate misnaming of “porn addiction”. Since sexual desire was a predictor in the study, it was not appropriate to segment the sexual arousal reports by the known confound: gender. Appropriately, we predicted that, to be consistent with other studies of addiction, cue reactivity should be enhanced to sex cues in those who claim to struggle with problems regulating their use. Instead, it was associated with decreased reactivity. The discussion should move from testing the addiction model of sex film viewing, which has had multiple predictions falsified by independent laboratory replications, to identifying a better fitting model of those behaviors. [Full text · Open in database] - Data do not support sex as addictive
Prause, N., Janssen, E., Georgiadis, J., Finn, P., & Pfaus, J. (2017) · The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(12), 899 · Design: Letter · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Data concerning frequent or excessive sex do not support its inclusion as an addiction. Also, data are not sufficient to differentiate between compulsive and impulsive models. [Full text · Open in database] - Compulsive sexual behavior as an impulse control disorder: Awaiting field studies data
Walton, M. T., & Bhullar, N. (2018) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1-5 · Design: Letter · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Hypersexuality may be a distinct disorder for a nucleus of presentations, although the condition is likely to often indicate a heterogeneous psychosexual behavioral problem or clinical or subclinical symptom of an existing psychological disorder or medical condition. [Open in database] - The pseudoscience behind public health crisis legislation
Ley, D. J. (2018) · Porn Studies, 5(2), 208-212 · Design: Commentary · Population: Not applicable · N: Not applicable
Author summary: Unfortunately, the label of porn addiction is commonly thrown at these individuals in a manner which feeds moral panic, diverts attention and resources from effective, evidence-based strategies to support these individuals, pathologizes otherwise-benign behaviours, serves a profit-driven, exploitative industry, and confuses cause and effect. [Open in database] - Modulation of late positive potentials by sexual images in problem users and controls inconsistent with “porn addiction”
Prause, N., Steele, V. R., Staley, C., Sabatinelli, D., & Hajcak, G. (2015) · Biological Psychology, 109, 192-199 · Design: Experiment (EEG) · Population: Men and women with/without problem use · N: 122
Author summary: Specifically, those reporting problems regulating their VSS use who also reported higher sexual desire had lower LPP in response to VSS. This pattern appears different from substance addiction models. [Open in database]
Youth and adolescents 20 studies
- Porn sex versus real sex: How sexually explicit material shapes our understanding of sexual anatomy, physiology, and behaviour
Hesse, C., & Pedersen, C. L. (2017) · Sexuality & Culture, 21(3), 754-775 · Design: Survey · Population: Ages 15 to 58 · N: 337
Author summary: Contrary to expectations, frequency of SEM exposure did not contribute to inaccurate knowledge of sexual anatomy, physiology, and behaviour. Rather, the opposite relationship was found. However, in concert with previous literature, participants reported greater positive self-perceived effects of SEM consumption than negative effects. [Full text · Open in database] - A Pornography Literacy Program for Adolescents
Rothman, E. F., Daley, N., & Alder, J. (2020) · American Journal of Public Health, 110(2), 154-156 · Design: Group intervention · Population: Adolescents · N: 31
Author summary: We developed a nine-session curriculum. We developed a one-session training program for adults who want to teach it. Youths who have participated in the program have experienced changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions related to pornography. [Full text · Open in database] - Pubertal timing, parenting style, and trajectories of pornography use in adolescence: Peer pornography use as the mediator
Nieh, H. P., Chang, L. Y., Chang, H. Y., Chiang, T. L., & Yen, L. L. (2020) · The Journal of Sex Research, 57(1), 29-41 · Design: Longitudinal data collection · Population: 5th to 12th grade boys and girls · N: 2,482
Author summary: We identified three trajectory groups, i.e., nonusers, increasing users and early-start frequent users, for both boys and girls. Early developed girls were more likely to be early-start frequent users and increasing users. On the other hand, late developed boys were less likely to be early-start frequent users. [Open in database] - ‘Accessing something that’s meant to be inaccessible’: Pornography viewers’ reconciliation between early pornographic memories and pornography’s perceived risk
Taylor, K. (2020) · Porn Studies · Design: Open-ended questionnaires and in-depth interviews · Population: Adults in New Zealand · N: Survey = 213; interviews = 30
Author summary: Despite pornography’s move from magazine, to VHS tape, to DVD, and now to ostensibly free internet streaming, pornographic content has consistently been understood as uniquely dangerous, despite each previous medium of delivery being cast off as outmoded and harmless. In line with research by Paasonen et al. (2015), these men seemingly allowed their past selves a level of agency that they would not afford to today’s young people. [Full text · Open in database] - A Two-Wave Assessment of the Structure and Stability of Self-Reported Problematic Pornography Use Among Male Croatian Adolescents
Štulhofer, A., Rousseau, A., & Shekarchi, R. (2020) · International Journal of Sexual Health, 1-14 · Design: Longitudinal (6 month) · Population: Male adolescents in Croatia · N: 337
Author summary: Network analysis indicated that associations among problematic pornography use (PPU) symptoms were highly stable, which was not the case with being at risk for PPU. Less than 5% of the panel participants appeared to be at risk for PPU. This study’s findings may help increase awareness and reduce moral panic about PPU among parents and teachers, and inform emerging pornography literacy programs. [Open in database] - Bad education? Childhood recollections of pornography, sexual exploration, learning and agency in Finland
Spišák, S., & Paasonen, S. (2017) · Childhood, 24(1), 99-112 · Design: In-depth retrospective interviews · Population: Men and women · N: 45
Author summary: Participants explicitly challenge claims of pornographic imagery as posing an imminent, corruptive risk for minors and there were no accounts of childhood trauma from viewing porn. [Open in database] - Sexual Abstinence and Associated Factors Among Young and Middle-Aged Men: A Systematic Review
Irfan, M., Hussain, N. H. N., Noor, N. M., Mohamed, M., & Ismail, S. B. (2020) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · Design: Systematic review · Population: Studies of young and middle-aged men · N: 13,154
Author summary: The prevalence of primary sexual abstinence was 3.4%–83.3% for young men and 12.5%–15.5% for middle-aged men. Young men had higher proportions of sexual abstinence than middle-aged men, and age, unavailability of a partner, lower educational levels, low socioeconomic status, conservative and religious conditions, and no or less knowledge about sexually transmitted infections were common predictors of sexual abstinence in most of the men. Porn was not a predictor. [Full text · Open in database] - The associations between sex drive, sexual self-concept, sexual orientation, and exposure to online victimization in Italian adolescents: Investigating the mediating role of verbal and visual sexting behaviors
Marengo, D., Settanni, M., & Longobardi, C. (2019) · Children and Youth Services Review, 102, 18-26 · Design: Survey · Population: High school students · N: 653
Author summary: We found both verbal and visual sexters to be older, have a stronger sex drive, and sexual self-concept than non-involved adolescents (i.e., non-sexters); while visual sexters were more likely to report non-heterosexual orientation than were verbal sexters and non-sexters. The emerging positive link between sex drive and engagement in sexting behaviors appears coherent with previous findings. [Open in database] - Problematic online sexual activities in men: The role of self-esteem, loneliness, and social anxiety
Wéry, A., Canale, N., Bell, C., Duvivier, B., & Billieux, J. (2020) · Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2(3), 217-226 · Design: Online survey · Population: Regular users of online sexual media · N: 209
Author summary: Low self-esteem is positively associated with loneliness and high social anxiety, which were in turn positively related to involvement in two specific OSAs: use of pornography and the search for online sexual contacts. Porn was not shown to be causing these issues. [Full text · Open in database] - Online sexual activity: Cross-national comparison between United States and Peruvian college students
Velezmoro, R., Negy, C., & Livia, J. (2012) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(4), 1015-1025 · Design: Survey · Population: Undergraduate college students · N: 571
Author summary: Both national groups, on average, engaged in OSA a relatively low number of hours each week. Further, no differences were found in maladjustment between those who engage in OSA and those who do not, suggesting that concerns over OSA are probably unwarranted. [Full text · Open in database] - Home Base: Family of Origin Factors and the Debut of Vaginal Sex, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Masturbation, and Pornography Use in a National Sample of Adolescents
Astle, S., Leonhardt, N., & Willoughby, B. (2019) · The Journal of Sex Research, 1-11 · Design: Survey · Population: 18-19 year old Americans · N: 2,556
Author summary: Higher quality family of origin experience was consistently associated with a lower likelihood of pornography access, masturbation, and oral sex and inconsistently associated with a lower likelihood of anal and vaginal sex. Higher quality family of origin and more time with biological parents predicted delayed debut of pornography access, masturbation, vaginal sex, and oral sex. [Full text · Open in database] - ‘We hid porn magazines in the nearby woods’: Memory-work and pornography consumption in Finland
Paasonen, S., Kyrölä, K., Nikunen, K., & Saarenmaa, L. (2015) · Sexualities, 18(4), 394-412 · Design: Developmental story request (memory-work) · Population: Finnish men and women · N: 45
Author summary: Finnish children have come across—and collected—pornography at an early age well before the era of online porn; it then follows that recent reports of porn invading the lives of children through smart phone technology around the age of 10 mark a continuum of practice, rather than simply a rupture therein. The contributors do not narrate their early encounters with pornography in terms of trauma and shock, but rather through the tropes of discovery and fascination. [Open in database] - ‘Everywhere they say that it’s harmful but they don’t say how, so I’m asking here’: Young people, pornography and negotiations with notions of risk and harm
Spišák, S. (2016) · Sex Education, 16(2), 130-142 · Design: Qualitative analysis of inquiries to a Finnish sexual-health service · Population: Young people contacting Finnish sexual-health experts · N: 4,212 questions
Author summary: Very few of the young people who contact sexual health experts experience porn itself as harmful. Rather, it is the risk talk that is experienced as unsettling. Research tends not to find conclusive evidence of harm in relation to young people’s encounters with pornography. [Full text · Open in database] - Longitudinal Assessment of the Association Between Pornography Use and Sexual Satisfaction in Adolescence
Milas, G., Wright, P., & Štulhofer, A. (2019) · The Journal of Sex Research, 1-13 · Design: Longitudinal · Population: Croatian high school students · N: 1,289
Author summary: We did not find a significant association between changes in the frequency of adolescents’ pornography use over time and their sexual satisfaction at wave six. The association between the initial levels of pornography use and sexual satisfaction, which, if present, would have indicated a possible relationship during middle adolescence, was also null. [Open in database] - Toward a Model of Porn Literacy: Core Concepts, Rationales, and Approaches
Dawson, K., Nic Gabhainn, S., & MacNeela, P. (2019) · The Journal of Sex Research, 1-15 · Design: Participatory · Population: Ages 18-25 · N: 54
Author summary: Proposed learning outcomes should focus on reducing shame regarding pornography engagement and improving critical thinking skills. [Open in database] - A pornography literacy class for youth: Results of a feasibility and efficacy pilot study
Rothman, E. F., Adhia, A., Christensen, T. T., Paruk, J., Alder, J., & Daley, N. (2018) · American Journal of Sexuality Education, 13(1), 1-17 · Design: Pilot intervention · Population: Ages 15–24 · N: 24
Author summary: First, the study demonstrated that it is feasible to implement a pornography literacy curriculum in a nonschool setting, and second, that this particular curriculum may have had some positive impact. [Open in database] - Is pornography use a risk for adolescent well-being? An examination of temporal relationships in two independent panel samples
Kohut, T., & Štulhofer, A. (2018) · PLoS ONE, 13(8), e0202048 · Design: Cross-lagged panel · Population: Croatian adolescents · N: 1,313
Author summary: Earlier levels of pornography use were not significantly associated with subsequent decreases in subjective well-being across gender and panel. However, pornography use was associated with increases in both self-esteem and symptoms of depression and anxiety, albeit only among adolescent women in one of the two panels. In addition, low subjective well-being was associated with a subsequent increase in pornography use, but only in female adolescents in one panel. This study’s results are not consistent with concerns about pornography use negatively contributing to male adolescents’ psychological well-being. [Open in database] - The dynamics of adolescents’ pornography use and psychological well-being: A six-wave latent growth and latent class modeling approach
Štulhofer, A., Tafro, A., & Kohut, T. (2019) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1-13 · Design: Longitudinal, within-subject · Population: Croatian adolescents · N: 1,289
Author summary: We observed no significant correspondence between growth in pornography use and changes in the two indicators of psychological well-being over time in either female or male participants. [Open in database] - The use of sexually explicit internet material and its antecedents: A longitudinal comparison of adolescents and adults
Peter, J., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2011) · Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40(5), 1015-1025 · Design: Longitudinal survey · Population: Dutch adolescents and adults · N: 2,278
Author summary: The frequency of SEIM use and its antecedents are largely the same among adolescents and adults. [Open in database] - The associations between adolescents' consumption of pornography and music videos and their sexting behavior
Van Ouytsel, J., Ponnet, K., & Walrave, M. (2014) · Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(12), 772-778 · Design: Survey · Population: 15-20 year old men and women in Belgium · N: 329
Author summary: Only two respondents indicated that they watched pornography more than two times a day. Music video consumption was significantly associated with asking someone for a sexting message and having received a sexting message. Sexting behaviors were significantly associated with the consumption of pornography, when controlling for age, gender, school track, and Internet use. [Full text · Open in database]