The Association Between Exposure to Violent Pornography and Teen Dating Violence in Grade 10 High School Students

Abstract

Exposure to pornography in general has been linked with adolescent dating violence and sexual aggression, but less is known about exposure to violent pornography specifically. The current study examined the association of violent pornography exposure with different forms of teen dating violence (TDV) using baseline survey data from a sample of Grade 10 high school students who reported being in a dating relationship in the past year (n = 1694). Gender-stratified logistic regression models generated odds ratios adjusted for demographics, substance use, history of suspension/expulsion, gender equitable attitudes, and tolerance of rape myths to identify significant associations between violent pornography exposure and self-reported physical, sexual, and threatening TDV perpetration and victimization. Violent pornography exposure was associated with all types of TDV, though patterns differed by gender. Boys exposed to violent pornography were 2–3 times more likely to report sexual TDV perpetration and victimization and physical TDV victimization, while girls exposed to violent pornography were over 1.5 times more likely to be perpetrate threatening TDV compared to their non-exposed counterparts. Comprehensive prevention strategies for TDV may consider the potential risks associated with exposure to violent pornography, particularly for boys, and provide an alternative source of education about healthy sexual behavior and relationships.

Design and Validation of the Scale TDV-VP Teen Dating Violence: Victimisation and Perpetration [Violencia en Parejas Adolescentes: Victimización y Perpetración] for Spanish Speakers

“…One factor studied in relation to the prevalence of sexual violence is the consumption of pornography. Exposure to violent pornography was associated with all types of TDV, although some patterns differed by gender [ 14 , 41 ]. Similarly, men who scored higher in what they called ‘male hostility’ and were frequent consumers of pornography were more likely to report sexual coercion [ 42 ].…”

Mitos del amor romántico en adolescentes: relación con el sexismo y variables procedentes de la socialización

“…A lo largo de las últimas décadas, la visualización de pornografía entre adolescentes ha aumentado significativamente debido, sobre todo, a las facilidades de acceso que proporcionan las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (Alexandraki et al, 2018;Rivera et al, 2016). La exposición a estos contenidos en la adolescencia puede propiciar que algunos de los modelos y comportamientos sexuales que forman parte de la pornografía sean percibidos como aceptables y gratificantes y se conviertan en guiones de conducta (Rostad et al, 2019). En este sentido, en un meta-análisis basado en 22 estudios de 7 países, Wright et al (2016) reportaron que la exposición a la pornografía está asociada con la agresión sexual y con las actitudes que apoyan la violencia, con independencia de la edad.…”

Synergy between Acceptance of Violence and Sexist Attitudes as a Dating Violence Risk Factor

“…The absence of physical contact in the new forms of interaction on virtual social networks causes some adolescents to adopt forms of behavior that they would not initiate in their face-to-face exchanges [1,2]. Access to erotic and pornographic videos, without any type of screening, leads some adolescents to take these as referents for the maintenance of their first sexual relations [3,4]. In both girls and boys, copying patriarchal systems and patterns of behavior as well as sexist and discriminatory attitudes towards women [5] is worrying, as also is the false empowerment of women [6].…”