The Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Thought Control Strategies on Pornography Use

Abstract

Objective: Due to easy accessibility to pornography for adolescents and youth, research on the use of pornography has proliferated in recent years. The aim of this study was to examine the role of difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies on pornography use. Methods:The population of this research included all students of the Sistan and Baluchestan University in southeastern Iran. A total of 395 students (193 men and 202 women), with a mean age of 22.35 years, were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The participants completed the standardized measures of frequency of pornography use, difficulties in emotion regulation, and thought control strategies. Data were analyzed in SPSS (v. 22) software by using Pearson's correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression. Results:The results showed that 74% of men used pornography in the past 12 months; however, only 35% of women used pornography in the past 12 months. The results also revealed that pornography use was correlated with difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies. Multiple regressions revealed that, in men, difficulties in emotion regulation (β=0.27; P<0.001) can positively predict pornography use and distraction (β=-0.28; P<0.001) can negatively predict pornography use. In addition, the results demonstrated that, in women, difficulties in emotion regulation (β=0.30; P<0.001) can positively predict pornography use and social control (β=-0.18; P<0.001) can negatively predict pornography use. Conclusion:These findings indicated that difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies (distraction and social control strategies) may successfully address the frequency of pornography use.

The Mediating Role of Impulsivity and Experiential Avoidance in the Relationship between Emotion Regulation and Pornography Viewing in Married Men

“…The achieved results indicated that difficulties in the ER were positively associated with the tendency to IPV. These results were consistent with those of the previous studies (Darvish Molla et al, 2018;Laier & brand, 2016;Laier & Brand, 2014;Paul, 2009;Cooper et al, 2004). Other studies also demonstrated that difficulties in ER play an essential role in problematic sexual behaviors, such as hypersexuality and sexual compulsion (Carvalho et al;Reid & Woolley, 2006).…”

“…Moreover, previous studies primarily focused on measuring the frequency of daily or weekly pornography use (Grubbs, Wilt, Exline, & Pargament, 2018); however, craving for pornography as a "transient but intense urge or desire that waxes and wanes over time and as a relatively stable preoccupation or inclination to use pornography" can be considered as a suitable indicator for "a combination of emotional, cognitive, overt behavioral, and physiological elements" concerning pornography use (Kraus & Rosenberg, 2014). The research findings provide preliminary evidence for possible links between ER and pornography use (Darvish Molla et al, 2018;Paul, 2009;Cooper et al, 2004). However, the psychological constructs mediating the relations between these variables remain unexplored; thus, there is a lack of any model or a network of relations in this regard.…”

“…The adverse effects of IPV are relatively well documented (Leonhardt & Willoughby, 2019;Perry, 2020;Wéry & Billieux, 2017); however, little scholarly attention has been paid to empirically examine the factors affecting the tendency to IPV. In some studies, Emotion Regulation (ER) has been proposed as an intrapersonal characteristic influencing pornography use (Darvish Molla, Shirazi & Nikmanesh, 2018;Laier & brand, 2016;Paul, 2009;Cooper, Delmonico, Griffin Shelley & Mathy, 2004). Previous studies have also indicated that difficulty in ER (e.g.…”

Validity and Reliability of the Persian Version of Cyber Pornography Use Inventory-9 Among Iranian Students

“…Several similar studies conducted in various countries report the prevalent use of Internet pornography [9,10]. In a study, about 74% of boys and 35% of girls watched pornography at least once a year in Iran [11]. Pornography should be de-I fined accurately since people's perception of pornography affects their responses [12,13].…”

Development and Validation of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Germophobia Questionnaire in Iran

“…Various ERSs are introduced (Bhatnagar, Shukla, & Pandey, 2020;Gao, Liu, & Ullah, 2019), i.e. linked to maladaptive behaviors, such as eating disorders, selfinflicted injury, substance abuse (Darvish Molla, Shirazi, & Nikmanesh, 2018), and emotional disorders. However, a challenge about ER is developing a conceptual framework that helps to organize multiple ER forms.…”