Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms
Introduction: Most of the previous studies on problematic pornography use and related behavior have focused on such descriptors of pornography use habits as frequency or time devoted to pornography use. Aim: We argue that this constitutes a narrow view and indicators that characterize other aspects...
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doaj-775f8ab7c3a54532939e4ba25b48d1da2021-02-27T04:37:55ZengElsevierSexual Medicine2050-11612021-02-0191100276Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior SymptomsKarol Lewczuk, PhD0Joanna Lesniak, MA1Michal Lew-Starowicz, MD, PhD2Mateusz Gola, PhD3Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, Warsaw, Poland; Corresponding Author: Karol Lewczuk, Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Wóycickiego 1/3, 01-938 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, PolandSwartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, Institute for Neural Computations, University of California, San Diego, United States; Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandIntroduction: Most of the previous studies on problematic pornography use and related behavior have focused on such descriptors of pornography use habits as frequency or time devoted to pornography use. Aim: We argue that this constitutes a narrow view and indicators that characterize other aspects of explicit content consumption, namely (i) longest session of pornography viewing (which may be related to binge behavior), as well as (ii) variability of consumed pornographic content, can also be useful indicators. Methods: An online study based on a sample of 132 heterosexual men seeking treatment for problematic pornography use, referred by therapists after their initial visit and 437 non-treatment seekers in the control group. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcomes of this study are reported longest, non-stop session of viewing pornography, variability in consumed pornographic content (including paraphilic and violent pornography), actual treatment seeking for problematic pornography use and severity of symptoms, and average weekly time devoted to pornography use. Results: Our analysis showed that longest session of viewing pornographic content as well as the variety of consumed pornography influenced the decision to seek treatment and the severity of symptoms even when the sheer amount of time devoted to pornography use was controlled. Conclusion: This is one of the few studies examining the role of engagement in prolonged sessions of pornography use and the variability of consumed pornographic content in the clinical context of problematic sexual behavior. The study's main limitations are its relatively narrow method of operationalization of variability of pornographic content and longest session of pornography viewing, as well as its cross-sectional, online, and anonymous character. As the described factors have an important influence on treatment seeking and the severity of experienced symptoms, they should be considered in the process of assessing compulsive sexual behavior disorder and related symptoms. Lewczuk K, Leśniak J, Lew-Starowicz M, et al. Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms. Sex Med 2021;9:100276.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116120301318PornographyProblematic Pornography UsePornography AddictionCompulsive Sexual Behavior DisorderTherapyBinge Behavior |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Karol Lewczuk, PhD Joanna Lesniak, MA Michal Lew-Starowicz, MD, PhD Mateusz Gola, PhD |
spellingShingle |
Karol Lewczuk, PhD Joanna Lesniak, MA Michal Lew-Starowicz, MD, PhD Mateusz Gola, PhD Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms Sexual Medicine Pornography Problematic Pornography Use Pornography Addiction Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Therapy Binge Behavior |
author_facet |
Karol Lewczuk, PhD Joanna Lesniak, MA Michal Lew-Starowicz, MD, PhD Mateusz Gola, PhD |
author_sort |
Karol Lewczuk, PhD |
title |
Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms |
title_short |
Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms |
title_full |
Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms |
title_fullStr |
Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms |
title_full_unstemmed |
Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms |
title_sort |
variability of pornographic content consumed and longest session of pornography use associated with treatment seeking and problematic sexual behavior symptoms |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Sexual Medicine |
issn |
2050-1161 |
publishDate |
2021-02-01 |
description |
Introduction: Most of the previous studies on problematic pornography use and related behavior have focused on such descriptors of pornography use habits as frequency or time devoted to pornography use. Aim: We argue that this constitutes a narrow view and indicators that characterize other aspects of explicit content consumption, namely (i) longest session of pornography viewing (which may be related to binge behavior), as well as (ii) variability of consumed pornographic content, can also be useful indicators. Methods: An online study based on a sample of 132 heterosexual men seeking treatment for problematic pornography use, referred by therapists after their initial visit and 437 non-treatment seekers in the control group. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcomes of this study are reported longest, non-stop session of viewing pornography, variability in consumed pornographic content (including paraphilic and violent pornography), actual treatment seeking for problematic pornography use and severity of symptoms, and average weekly time devoted to pornography use. Results: Our analysis showed that longest session of viewing pornographic content as well as the variety of consumed pornography influenced the decision to seek treatment and the severity of symptoms even when the sheer amount of time devoted to pornography use was controlled. Conclusion: This is one of the few studies examining the role of engagement in prolonged sessions of pornography use and the variability of consumed pornographic content in the clinical context of problematic sexual behavior. The study's main limitations are its relatively narrow method of operationalization of variability of pornographic content and longest session of pornography viewing, as well as its cross-sectional, online, and anonymous character. As the described factors have an important influence on treatment seeking and the severity of experienced symptoms, they should be considered in the process of assessing compulsive sexual behavior disorder and related symptoms. Lewczuk K, Leśniak J, Lew-Starowicz M, et al. Variability of Pornographic Content Consumed and Longest Session of Pornography Use Associated With Treatment Seeking and Problematic Sexual Behavior Symptoms. Sex Med 2021;9:100276. |
topic |
Pornography Problematic Pornography Use Pornography Addiction Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Therapy Binge Behavior |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116120301318 |
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