Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Pages: 1274-1282

Journal: The Journal of Sexual Medicine

Volume number: 16

Issue number: 8

ISSN: 1743-6095

eISSN: 1743-6109

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.05.010

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract: 

Aim: To investigate problematic online pornography use in women, an issue that has rarely been tackled to date.

Methods: We used the data from a comprehensive, cross-sectional survey of a self-referred sample of 485 German women to examine the relationships between problematic online pornography consumption and a range of sexual behaviors, trait sexual motivation, and motives for pornography use.

Results: Approximately 3% of our sample had problematic pornography use. In multivariate analysis, problematic use was significantly associated with the overall time spent viewing online pornography, greater sexual motivation, and greater emotional avoidance. Our data also indicate that the influence of sexual motivation on problematic pornography use is mediated by the amount of time spent watching online pornography.

Clinical Translation: Identifying these predictors for problematic use is important for specific prevention programs for women at risk of pathological use.

Strengths & Limitations: This study is one of the first to show that women also experience problematic online pornography use and identifies risk factors for problematic behavior. The weakness of this study is that as in all studies on sexuality, people who are interested in the topic and are comfortable talking about it are more likely to participate, thus rendering the sample nonrepresentative.

Conclusion: Based on our findings, approximately 3% of women experience problems associated with engaging in online pornography consumption. Copyright (C) 2019, International Society for Sexual Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Baranowski, A., Vogl, R. and Stark, R. (2019) Prevalence and Determinants of Problematic Online Pornography Use in a Sample of German Women, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 16(8), pp. 1274-1282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.05.010

APA Citation style: Baranowski, A., Vogl, R., & Stark, R. (2019). Prevalence and Determinants of Problematic Online Pornography Use in a Sample of German Women. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 16(8), 1274-1282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.05.010