Psychometric Properties of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale in a Japanese Sample

Abstract

Problematic pornography use (PPU) is the inability to control the use of pornography and is considered a form of compulsive sexual behavior. It can have a negative effect on one's life and is an important clinical and social issue. In Japan, there is no assessment tool to measure PPU and very little research has been done. The Problematic Pornography Use Scale is one of the scales assessing the severity of PPU. This study validated a Japanese version of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS-J) and examined its psychometric properties in a sample of 1011 individuals through an online survey (502 men, 509 women; M age = 35.9 years, SD = 13.75). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the four factors in the original scale were consistent with the factors in the PPUS-J, and strict invariance could be assumed for male and female participants. With regard to reliability, internal consistency indices were appropriate both at the overall and subscale levels for male and female participants. The PPUS-J showed good convergent and divergent validity due to the relationship between the subscales and other measures such as the Sexual Compulsivity Scale. These results demonstrate the validity of the PPUS-J for assessing problematic pornography use in a Japanese sample. Given the paucity of studies conducted in non-Western cultures and on women, this study will be useful in advancing research on PPU across different cultures. Future studies should examine test-retest reliability of the PPUS-J and its use with clinical groups.

Psychometric Network Analysis of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS) in Peruvian Adults

“…On the other hand, through the factorial technique it was verified that the interfactor correlations scored high values (≥.82) and their interpretation is closer to the presence of collinearity. This result with high estimates was also reported in other studies, 25 where they obtained interfactor correlations above 0.85. Furthermore, it is necessary to point out that the studies that preceded this research did not employ more robust techniques such as the bifactor model, with the purpose of evaluating the incidence of the general factor as well as the specific factor on the common variance of the item; 12 , 25 , 26 ie, the objective of the bifactor model is to evaluate that the common variance of the items is not only attributed to the specific factor, but to the general factor.…”

“…32 This allows for further exploration of the dimensions of UPPS and to assess the extent to which differences in UPPS are explained by common factors or specific components, 33 as referred to in previous UPPS studies. 12,25,26 Procedure Initially, the instrument was applied to 110 participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study. This is part of a pilot test in order to confirm whether the items of the instrument were being fully understood and to make certain adjustments involving the validity and reliability of the instrument before its final application.…”

“… 32 This allows for further exploration of the dimensions of UPPS and to assess the extent to which differences in UPPS are explained by common factors or specific components, 33 as referred to in previous UPPS studies. 12 , 25 , 26…”

“…Thus, the results provide more support for the unidimensional structure compared to the one proposed by the original author 12 and the Asian adaptation. 25 In this sense, the studies that preceded the current study did not evaluate multidimensionality, using hierarchical models such as the bifactor, where it is tested that the shared variance of each item is due to the specific factor as well as to the hierarchical factor. The research was circumscribed only by means of oblique three- and four-factor models.…”

“…Another study 24 used PPUS on 105 hypersexual men ranging in age from 18 to 73 years, demonstrating evidence of discriminant and construct validity with a total alpha for the overall scale of (α = 0.83) indicating that there is a predisposition of pornography consumption in hypersexual men. In a recent survey 25 in which they adapted the PPUS-J by means of confirmatory factor analysis, based on the four factors of the original scale, it was found that the results are consistent. With respect to internal consistency, adequate values were obtained in a general and dimensional manner, and in terms of validity with other variables, a significant convergence with the sexual compulsivity scale was demonstrated.…”