The Prevalence of Using Pornography for Information About How to Have Sex: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey of U.S. Adolescents and Young Adults

AUTHOR(S)

Rothman, Emily F.; Beckmeyer, Jonathon J.; Herbenick, Debby; Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Dodge, Brian; and Fortenberry, J. Dennis

PUBLISHED

2021 in Archives of Sexual Behavior

KEY FINDINGS
  • This nationally representative survey found that 1 in 4 18-24 year-olds surveyed identified pornography as the most helpful source for learning about how to have sex. Additionally, this study found that adolescents who had healthy discussions with parents about sex were less likely to report that pornography was a helpful source of information about sex.

Thorn research: Understanding sexually explicit images, self-produced by children

AUTHOR(S)

Thorn; and Benenson Strategy Group

PUBLISHED

2020 in Thorn

KEY FINDINGS
  • This exploration into self-generated child sexual abuse material (sometimes referred to as "child porn") shows that many minors view sending nudes as normal and that those nude images of minors are often shared without consent.

Hidden in Shame: Heterosexual Men’s Experiences of Self-Perceived Problematic Pornography Use

AUTHOR(S)

Sniewski, Luke; and Farvid, Pani

PUBLISHED

2020 in Psychology of Men & Masculinities

KEY FINDINGS
  • This qualitative study analyzed how men with problematic pornography habits discuss the effects of their pornography use. Analysis showed that their pornography use is associated with guilt and shame, increased objectification, sexual dysfunction, unhealthy expectations for sex, and poorer self-esteem and mental health outcomes.

I (Dis)Like it Like That: Gender, Pornography, and Liking Sex

AUTHOR(S)

Ezzell, Matthew B.; Johnson, Jennifer A.; Bridges, Ana J.; and Sun, Chyng F.

PUBLISHED

2020 in Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy Volume 46, 2020

KEY FINDINGS
  • This study found that increased pornography consumption was associated with men's enjoyment of degrading/uncommon sexually aggressive behaviors, while increased pornography consumption was associated with women's enjoyment of being the recipient of lightly aggressive behaviors.
CATEGORIES

Diverse Sexual Behaviors and Pornography Use: Findings From a Nationally Representative Probability Survey of Americans Aged 18 to 60 Years

AUTHOR(S)

Herbenick, Debby; Fu, Tsung-Chieh; Wright, Paul J.; Paul, Bryant; Gradus, Ronna; Bauer, Jill; and Jones, Rashida

PUBLISHED

2020 in Journal of Sexual Medicine

KEY FINDINGS
  • In this nationally representative survey, researchers found that pornography consumption is significantly associated with engaging in aggressive sexual behaviors—both as the aggressor and the target of aggression. Women and men who have sex with men were significantly more likely to report being the targets of sexually aggressive behaviors.

Pornography and Relationship Quality: Establishing the Dominant Pattern by Examining Pornography Use and 31 Measures of Relationship Quality in 30 National Surveys

AUTHOR(S)

Perry, Samuel L.

PUBLISHED

2020 in Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2020 May;49(4):1199-1213

KEY FINDINGS
  • Analyzing data from 30 nationally representative surveys, this study found that pornography use was associated with poorer relationship quality, if at all, and was virtually never associated with better relationship quality. This was true for men and women, and married and unmarried participants alike.
CATEGORIES