Is Pornography Use Associated with Sexual Difficulties and Dysfunctions among Younger Heterosexual Men?

Abstract

Introduction Recent epidemiological studies reported high prevalence rates of erectile dysfunction (ED) among younger heterosexual men (≤40). It has been suggested that this “epidemic” of ED is related to increased pornography use. However, empirical evidence for such association is currently lacking. Aim This study analyzes associations between pornography use and sexual health disturbances among younger heterosexual men using four large-scale online samples from three European countries. Methods The analyses were carried out using a 2011 cross-sectional online study of Croatian, Norwegian, and Portuguese men (Study 1; N = 2,737) and a 2014 cross-sectional online study of Croatian men (Study 2; N = 1,211). Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the associations between pornography use and sexual difficulties. Main Outcome Measures In Study 1, erectile difficulties, inability to reach orgasm, and a lack of sexual desire were measured using the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behavior indicators. In Study 2, ED was measured with the abridged International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Delayed ejaculation and a decrease of sexual desire were assessed with one-item indicators. Results In Study 1, only the relationship between pornography use and ED among Croatian men was statistically significant (χ2[2] = 18.76, P < 0.01). The association was small and inconsistent. Compared with infrequent use of pornography, moderate but not high frequency of pornography use increased the odds of reporting ED (adjusted odds ratio = 0.53, P < 0.01). In Study 2, no significant associations both between either the frequency or the recent dynamics of pornography use and male sexual dysfunctions were observed. Conclusion 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.

The Role of Internet Pornography Use and Cyber Infidelity in the Associations between Personality, Attachment, and Couple and Sexual Satisfaction

“…Willoughby et al [12] have argued that the association between pornography use and couple dissatisfaction can be explained by men's aggressiveness, women's lower sex drives, and poor within-couple communication. Muusses et al [48] have stated that men's pornography use is associated with low couple satisfaction and sexual satisfaction, which supports findings by Landripet and Štulhofer [50]. Women's use of pornography is linked to greater marital satisfaction [11] for both partners [2].…”

Sexually explicit media use and relationship satisfaction: a moderating role of emotional intimacy?

“…Recent research in the area of SEM usage has mostly focused on proximal outcomes such as sexual satisfaction (Peter & Valkenburg, 2009;Stulhofer, Bu sko & Landripet, 2010;Yucel & Gassanov, 2010;Zillmann & Bryant, 1988), sexual dysfunctions (Hald, 2015;Landripet & Stulhofer, 2015), extra-relational attitudes and behaviors (e.g. EmmersSommer, Hertlein, & Kennedy, 2013;Lambert, Negash, Stillman, Olmstead, & Fincham, 2012;Maddox et al, 2011;Wright, Tokunaga, & Bae, 2014) and sexist and sexually aggressive attitudes (Hald & Malamuth, 2015;Hald, Malamuth, & Lange, 2013) and has investigated the role of SEM use in couples' relationship satisfaction primarily as a side effect.…”

The Risks Young People Face as Porn Consumers

“…Historically, levels of impotence among young men have been 2% to 5% (Park et al, 2016). A range of recent studies are finding that 27% to 33% of young men age 18-40 years are having erectile difficulties and low libido rates with a real partner (Bronner & Ben-Zion, 2014;Klucken, Wehrum-Osinsky, Schweckendiek, Kruse, & Stark, 2016;Kühn & Gallinat, 2014;Mialon, Berchtold, Michaud, Gmel, & Suris, 2012;Pizzol, Bertoldo, & Foresta, 2015;Sutton, Stratton, Pytyck, Kolla, & Cantor, 2015), though not with internet pornography (Landripet & Štulhofer, 2015). Essentially, they have conditioned their brains to respond to images on a screen and not to real partners.…”