The Cyber-Pornography Use Inventory: The Development of a New Assessment Instrument

Abstract

Internet pornography usage has become widespread in recent years, and the task of assessing this usage has proven difficult. Furthermore, assessing this usage in religious populations has proven nearly impossible due to the morally charged nature of the subject. As such, this study recounts the development of a new instrument for assessing Internet pornography usage that could be effectively used in religious populations. Factor analyses of the instrument revealed a three-factor structure that demonstrated acceptable reliability (α >.80) for each factor, as well as some measure of construct validity. The instrument also offered initial analyses of the feelings of guilt and distress experienced by religious populations as a result of their Internet pornography consumption. These results demonstrate great potential for future clinical application as well as research, particularly in populations that are prone to experience more guilt as a result of their usage.