Do Cyber Pornography Use Inventory-9 Scores Reflect Actual Compulsivity in Internet Pornography Use? Exploring the Role of Abstinence Effort

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to explore whether scores on the Cyber Pornography Use Inventory-9 (CPUI-9) are reflective of actual compulsivity. We examined whether CPUI-9 scores are predicted by failed abstinence attempts and failed abstinence attempts × abstinence effort (conceptualized as actual compulsivity), controlling for moral disapproval. A group of 76 male Internet pornography users received instructions to abstain from Internet pornography for 14 days and to monitor their failed abstinence attempts. Greater Perceived Compulsivity scores (but not Emotional Distress scores) were predicted by abstinence effort, and failed abstinence attempts when abstinence effort was high. Moral disapproval predicted Emotional Distress scores, but not Perceived Compulsivity scores. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Funding

We are grateful to Solace Sabah Addiction Treatment Retreat for their funding support.

Notes

¹ Subsequent research has also employed the term “perceived addiction to IP” to denote CPUI-9 full scale scores.

² We are not suggesting that the presence of actual compulsivity alone equates to actual addiction, as addiction is a complex construct consisting of more symptoms than mere loss of control. However, we are proposing that the presence of actual compulsivity increases the probability that actual addiction to IP might be present in the individual.