Problematic Pornography Use, Mental Health, and Suicidality among Young Adults

Mujde Altin, Diego De Leo, Noemi Tribbia, Lucia Ronconi and Sabrina Cipolletta ()
Additional contact information
Mujde Altin: Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
Diego De Leo: De Leo Fund, 35137 Padua, Italy
Noemi Tribbia: De Leo Fund, 35137 Padua, Italy
Lucia Ronconi: Computer and Statistical Services, Multifunctional Pole of Psychology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Sabrina Cipolletta: Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: The relationship between suicidality and problematic pornography use (PPU) is not clear, and the limited research data that exists show contradictory results. The present study aims to explore the associations between these two variables in a sample of young adults, taking into account gender differences and the role of loneliness, emotional states, and well-being. A total of 332 national and international students (60% female) at an Italian University with a mean age of 23 years (SD = 2.84) completed an anonymous online survey during the period from March 2023 to May 2023. The results show that PPU was associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, and suicide ideation, as well as lower life satisfaction. Gender comparison analysis revealed significantly higher scores for PPU and loneliness among men, while women scored higher in stress, anxiety, and life satisfaction. Significant correlations between PPU and suicidal ideation and having a suicide plan were established for female participants despite their lower scores in PPU. Multiple regression analysis revealed that PPU and its interaction with gender were both significant predictors of suicidal ideation. Future attention should be paid to how young women may be influenced by exposure to sexually explicit materials, while always considering the role of loneliness.

Keywords: pornography; suicide; gender; loneliness; mental health; young adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/9/1228/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/9/1228/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:9:p:1228-:d:1480007

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().