Associative pathways between pornography consumption and reduced sexual satisfaction

ABSTRACT

Social and clinical psychologists are increasingly examining the influence of pornography on sexual health outcomes. An important sexual health outcome that some scholars have suggested is influenced by pornography is sexual satisfaction. Guided by sexual script theory, social comparison theory, and informed by prior research on pornography, socialization, and sexual satisfaction, the present survey study of heterosexual adults tested a conceptual model linking more frequent pornography consumption to reduced sexual satisfaction via the perception that pornography is a primary source of sexual information, a preference for pornographic over partnered sexual excitement, and the devaluation of sexual communication. The model was supported by the data for both men and women. Pornography consumption frequency was associated with perceiving pornography as a primary source of sexual information, which was associated with a preference for pornographic over partnered sexual excitement and the devaluation of sexual communication. Preferring pornographic to partnered sexual excitement and devaluing sexual communication were both associated with less sexual satisfaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Pornography
• satisfaction
• sexual scripts
• sexual excitement
• sexual communication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul J. Wright

Paul J. Wright (PhD, University of Arizona) is an associate professor in The Media School at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Chyng Sun

Chyng Sun (PhD, University of Massachusetts-Amherst) is a clinical professor of Media Studies at NYU School of Professional Studies and a documentary filmmaker.

Nicola J. Steffen

Nicola J. Steffen (PhD, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main) is an academic and an author.

Robert S. Tokunaga

Robert S. Tokunaga (PhD, University of Arizona) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communicology at University of Hawaii, Manoa.