A Two-Wave Assessment of the Structure and Stability of Self-Reported Problematic Pornography Use Among Male Croatian Adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: In spite of growing concerns about adolescents’ pornography use, research on problematic pornography use (PPU) in this population is scarce.

Method: We examined the structure and prevalence of PPU symptoms across 6 months in 337 male Croatian adolescents.

Results: Network analysis indicated that associations among PPU symptoms were highly stable, which was not the case with being at risk for PPU. Less than 5% of the panel participants appeared to be at risk for PPU.

Conclusions: This study’s findings may help increase awareness and reduce moral panic about PPU among parents and teachers, and inform emerging pornography literacy programs.

Keywords:

• Pornography
• problematic use
• adolescents
• network analysis

Notes

Notes

1 It should be noted that the finding may also explain the absence of a significant relationship between sexual satisfaction and PPU in our sample.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation [grant no. 922 awarded to A. Štulhofer]. A. Rousseau was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO).