Associations between online pornography and sexual behavior among adolescents: myth or reality?

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_F61FD469AF09
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Associations between online pornography and sexual behavior among adolescents: myth or reality?
Journal
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Author(s)
Luder Marie-Thérèse, Pittet Isabelle, Berchtold André, Akré Christina, Michaud Pierre-André, Suris Joan-Carles
ISSN
1573-2800 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0004-0002
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2011
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
40
Number
5
Pages
1027-1035
Language
english
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the sexual behavior of adolescents who were or were not exposed to online pornography, to assess to what extent the willingness of exposure changed these possible associations, and to determine the profiles of youths who were exposed to online pornography. Data were drawn from the 2002 Swiss Multicenter Adolescent Survey on Health, a self-administered cross-sectional, paper and pencil questionnaire. From the 7529 adolescents aged 16-20 years, 6054 (3283 males) used the Internet during the previous month and were eligible for our study. Males were divided into three groups (wanted exposure, 29.2%; unwanted exposure, 46.7%; no exposure, 24.1%) whereas females were divided into two groups (exposure, 35.9%; no exposure, 64.1%). The principal outcome measures were demographic characteristics, Internet use parameters and risky sexual behaviors. Risky sexual behaviors were not associated with online pornography exposure in any of the groups, except that males who were exposed (deliberately or not) had higher odds of not having used a condom at last intercourse. Bi/homosexual orientation and Internet use parameters were not associated either. Additionally, males in the wanted exposure group were more likely to be sensation-seekers. On the other hand, exposed girls were more likely to be students, higher sensation-seekers, early maturers, and to have a highly educated father. We conclude that pornography exposure is not associated with risky sexual behaviors and that the willingness of exposure does not seem to have an impact on risky sexual behaviors among adolescents.
Keywords
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior/psychology, Attitude to Health, Erotica/psychology, Female, Humans, Internet/statistics & numerical data, Male, Motivation, Peer Group, Psychosexual Development, Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Risk-Taking, Sexual Behavior/psychology, Switzerland/pidemiology, Young Adult
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
08/09/2011 21:36
Last modification date
20/08/2019 17:22
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