Pornography Use: Its Impact on Heterosexual Men's Lives & Romantic Relationship

Journal of Social Research & Policy, Volume: 8, Issue: 1, pp. 81-99

Date: July 2017

ISSN: 2067-2640 (print), 2068-9861 (electronic)

Abstract: The effect of pornography use on heterosexual men’s levels of investment in their romantic relationship was investigated in this study. 180 males aged 18 - 29 years responded to the Pornography Use Scale, Pornography Consumption Effect Scale (PCES), and Investment Model Scale. Correlation analyses showed that frequency of pornography use was positively related to problematic use of pornography (r= .59, p<.01), and self-perceived overall negative effects of pornography consumption (r= .22, p< .01), but negatively associated with self-perceived overall positive effects of pornography consumption (r= -.31, p<.01). Linear regression analyses demonstrated that frequency of pornography use lowered satisfaction levels (R2=.052, F(1, 178) = 10.73, β= -.238, p<.01), investment size (R2=.039, F(1, 178) = 8.245, β= -.210, p<.01) and commitment levels (R2=.032, F(1, 178) = 6.926, β= -.194, p<.05), but heightened the quality of alternatives (R2=.130, F(1, 178) = 27.832, β= .368, p<.01) of men in their romantic relationships.