- 100 million adults may depend on porn
- Few seek treatment for usage
- Study spans 82,243 adults globally
In the study, which was published in the journal Addiction, over eighty thousand adults from dozens of countries participated.
The principal author of the study and a psychologist at the University of Montreal, Dr. Beatha Būthe, stated, “Our research indicates that problematic pornography use is more prevalent than commonly believed and has a broad impact on individuals.”
It emphasises the fact that although many are struggling, few seek assistance. This is significant because it indicates that further efforts are required to comprehend and assist individuals impacted by the issue.
Eighty co-authors comprised the research team, the majority of whom are International Sex Survey consortium members from the United States, China, Europe, and other regions.
Between October 2021 and May 2022, they evaluated 82,243 adults in 42 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France, and Germany.
57% of the average age of the participants was 32 years old; they were all female.
Moreover, 68% identified as heterosexual. One-third of the population was unmarried, while the other-third was in a relationship. Three-quarters remained married.
Additionally, over 70% of those surveyed were childless.
Poland followed Hungary with the second-highest percentage of participants (12 per cent), with 14.6%.
Approximately 3% were Americans, whereas 1.7% were from the United Kingdom.
The respondents were administered an anonymous questionnaire that was initially drafted in English before undergoing 25 additional translations. Individuals required approximately 25 to 45 minutes to finish.
The survey inquired about the age at which participants first encountered pornographic material, the frequency of their viewings within the previous year, the duration of their pornographic viewing sessions, the frequency of their masturbation, their conviction of having an addiction, and whether or not they were actively pursuing treatment.
The Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale was employed to assess individuals’ levels of concern regarding pornography. It comprised statements including “I perceived porn to be an integral part of my life” and “I experienced stress whenever an obstacle prevented me from viewing porn.”
“The team discovered that between 70 and 94 per cent of adults in North America, Europe, and Australia have viewed pornographic material at some point in their lives,” Dr Bōthe stated.
Furthermore, the researchers hypothesised, based on the survey results, that approximately three per cent of the world’s population may have pornographic viewing habits that have an impact on their daily lives.
The prevalence of pornographic material consumption was higher among men than women, irrespective of sexual orientation, but no significant differences were observed.
A mere one per cent of the total participants indicated that they had attempted to obtain treatment for their purported addiction to pornography.
Further findings from the research revealed that, on average, individuals were exposed to sexually explicit content for the first time by the age of 14.
The categories of pornography that individuals prefer to view, such as chat rooms, videos, webcam performances, erotic literature, and virtual reality, were not quantified by the team.
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Prominent authorities have cautioned that excessive pornographic content consumption may indicate sex addiction, a condition that affects up to 24 million Americans. However, there remains ongoing scholarly discourse regarding the classification of this addiction as a legitimate illness.
Additional indications consist of compulsive sexual behaviours, regret or sorrow following sexual encounters, and deceitful behaviour intended to conceal the truth.
Numerous studies, including the one published in Addition, have identified the potential negative effects of excessive pornographic viewing.
As an illustration, a June study found that Israeli males who viewed more pornographic material were more likely to suffer from eating disorders such as purging and bingeing, as well as to have a negative body image.
Additionally, a study conducted by Brigham Young University revealed that men who expressed a preference for softcore porn, which portrays consensual sex, were more inclined to acknowledge dissatisfaction within their romantic partnerships.
The researchers from the BYU study advised individuals to completely abstain from pornographic media consumption to support the maintenance of committed relationships.
The team wrote, “Because a significant portion of pornographic material highlights casual sexual encounters and multiple partners, regular exposure to such messages may potentially alter sexual and relational scripts in ways that undermine stability [in a relationship].”
