Pornography Consumption and Condomless Sex among Emerging U.S. Adults: Results from Six Nationally Representative Surveys

ABSTRACT

Using six samples of unmarried U.S. residents aged 18–24 who were part of a larger biennial nationally representative survey (2008–2018), the present study examined whether pornography consumption is a risk factor for condomless sex during emerging adulthood. Condomless sex is the norm in popular, commonly consumed, pornography. Further, emerging adulthood is a time of heightened sexual experimentation and risk taking, and many emerging adults view pornography. Consistent with a sexual scripting perspective on media processes and effects, emerging adults who viewed pornography were more likely to have condomless sex than their peers who did not consume pornography. The link between pornography use and condomless sex was similar for men and women, white youth and youth of color, as well as heterosexual and LGB youth. The link was not moderated by age. Further, the link was robust even when indicators of both sexual and nonsexual sensation seeking predilections were included in analyses. These results are consistent with recent suggestions from public health experts that sex education programs need to include modules on pornography literacy.

Notes

1. These industry terms further illustrate the point that condomless sex sequences are so common in pornography they have been given names (see also Beggan, 2020; Bridges et al., 2010; Jensen, 2007; Wright et al., 2015; Zhou & Paul, 2016).

2. Findings were unchanged when year of data collection was included as a covariate.

3. It is important to note that poverty and other adverse conditions are often motivations in exchanging sex for pay (Moran & Farley, 2019).