Internet Pornography and U.S. Women's Sexual Behavior: Results From a National Sample

Abstract

Representative studies on Internet pornography exposure and women's sexual behavior are needed. National data were utilized to explore the association between 1,077 U.S. women's exposure to Internet pornography and number of sexual partners. Internet pornography exposure and number of sexual partners were positively correlated. This association remained after controlling for age, marital status, ethnicity, education, and religiosity. However, the association was moderated in theoretically predictable ways by women's confidence in media and perceived life dullness.

Notes

¹Although researchers who study media confidence rarely invoke the idea of “perceived reality” (Potter, 1986) and researchers who study perceived reality rarely invoke the idea of media confidence, the two concepts share a great deal of similarity. The concepts are similar at the level of definition: In most perceived reality studies, “perceived reality is treated as a synonym for media accuracy” (Potter, 1988, p. 24). The concepts are also similar at the level of conceptualization. Like media confidence, perceived reality is treated as an individual difference, traitlike variable: “Perceived reality is more likely associated with individual differences rather than with the message itself … some viewers may ‘see’ much more reality in the message than others” (Potter, 1986, p. 160).

^a White = 0, Nonwhite = 1.

^b Married = 0, Unmarried = 1.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

Note. These statistics represent the final step of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. N = 229. Model R ²  = .19, p < .01. ΔR ² step 1 controls = .14, p < .01. ΔR ² Step 2 predictors = .03, p < .05. ΔR ² Step 3 interaction = .02, p < .05.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

²A reviewer noted that perceived life dullness might be considered a categorical variable. In response to this observation, a multiple regression analysis was conducted with perceived life dullness coded as a dummy variable. Interaction probing with dummy coded moderators involves simple slope testing at specific categories of the moderator (Aiken & West, 1991). Corroborating the study's second hypothesis and the original analysis, Internet pornography viewing was associated with having more partners for women who rated their lives as “exciting” (β = 0.41, p < .05) but not for women who rated their lives as “dull” (β = 0.08, p = .28).

Note. Above statistics represent the final step of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. N = 250. Model R ² = .22, p < .01. ΔR ² Step 1 controls = .16, p < .01. ΔR ² Step 2 predictors = .03, p < .05. ΔR ² Step 3 interaction = .03, p < .01.

*p < .05. **p < .01.

³Although not testable by the present study, it is interesting to consider the possibility that perceptions of life dullness are indicative of sensation seeking. Some assessments of sensation seeking include boredom proneness as a subcomponent (Donohew et al., 2000). Like boredom proneness, drug use is indicative of sensation seeking. A recent longitudinal study of prior pornography exposure and subsequent engagement in casual sex found an interaction that mirrors the interaction found in this study between pornography exposure and perceived life dullness. Wright (2012b) found that drug users were more likely to engage in casual sex than nondrug users, but only nondrug users' casual sex behavior was predicted by pornography exposure. Wright surmised that high-sensation-seeking drug users are motivated to have casual sex regardless of their pornography exposure, whereas pornography exposure increases low-sensation-seeking non–drug users' desire for casual sex. In sum, it is possible that what both this study and Wright (2012b) ultimately demonstrate is that high sensation seekers are likely to engage in risky sex regardless of exposure to pornography, but pornography exposure increases the probability that low sensation seekers will engage in risky sex. Recent longitudinal research does find that exposure to sexual media increases sensation seeking, and increases in sensation seeking predict subsequent sexual risk behavior (O'Hara, Gibbons, Gerrard, Li, & Sargent, 2012).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul J. Wright

Paul J. Wright (Ph.D., University of Arizona, 2011) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Telecommunications at Indiana University. His research interests include sexual socialization and sexual health.

Analisa Arroyo

Analisa Arroyo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include intergroup and health communication.