Generation XXX: Pornography Acceptance and Use Among Emerging Adults

AUTHOR(S)

Carroll, Jason S.; Padilla-Walker, Laura M.; Nelson, Larry J.; Olson, Chad D.; McNamara Barry, Carolyn; and Madsen, Stephanie D.

PUBLISHED

2008 in Journal of Adolescent Research, Vol. 23(1), pp. 6-30

KEY FINDINGS
  • The results of this study revealed that roughly two thirds (67% ) of young men and one half (49%) of young women agree that viewing pornography is acceptable.
  • This study also found that nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) young men and nearly one third (31%) of young women reported using pornography.
  • Results also revealed associations between pornography acceptance and use and emerging adults' risky sexual attitudes and behaviors, substance use patterns, and nonmarital cohabitation values.
ABSTRACT
This study examined correlates of pornography acceptance and use within a normative (nonclinical) population of emerging adults (individuals aged 18-26). Participants included 813 university students (500 women; M age = 20 years) recruited from six college sites across the United States. Participants completed online questionnaires regarding their acceptance and use of pornography, as well as their sexual values and activity, substance use, and family formation values. Results revealed that roughly two thirds (67% ) of young... READ FULL ABSTRACT
EXCERPTS
  • "Results suggest that pornography is a prominent feature of the current emerging adulthood culture. Pornography use was particularly prevalent among emerging adult men, with nearly half reporting that they viewed pornography at least weekly and about 1 in 5 reporting that they used pornography daily or every other day. In contrast, emerging adult women were less accepting and much less likely to use pornography on a frequent basis."
  • " However, it should also be noted that pornography use was linked to permissive sexuality... men who used pornography and women who accepted pornography were significantly more likely to accept a married person’s having sexual relations with someone other than his or her spouse than were their peers who did not use or accept pornography."
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