Personal and reported partner pornography viewing by Australian women, and association with mental health and body image
Ingrid L. Laemmle-Ruff A E F , Michelle Raggatt A , Cassandra J. C. Wright A B , Elise R. Carrotte A , Angela Davis A , Rebecca Jenkinson A B C and Megan S. C. Lim A B DA Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
B School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
C Australian Institute of Family Studies, 40 City Road, Southbank, Vic. 3006, Australia.
D Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
E Royal Children’s Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: ingrid.laemmle-ruff@burnet.edu.au
Sexual Health 16(1) 75-79 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH18037
Submitted: 6 March 2018 Accepted: 6 August 2018 Published: 7 January 2019
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2019 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Background: Personal and partner pornography viewing may affect health and wellbeing. This study aimed to improve understanding of the effects of pornography on mental health and body image, given emerging evidence of increasing use, particularly among young people. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was implemented, targeting people who had accessed health and fitness content via social media. Convenience sampling was used and participants were recruited via advertising on social media. Results: Overall, 76% (75/99) of women reported having ever viewed pornography, and 21% had viewed pornography frequently (monthly/weekly/daily) in the prior 12 months. The association between frequent viewing and higher-risk Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale scores lost significance once controlled for age (adjusted OR 2.30, 95%CI 0.82–6.49, P = 0.11). There was an association with frequent reported partner pornography use (monthly/weekly/daily) and increased Drive for Muscularity scores (adjusted OR 2.20, 95%CI 1.01–4.80, P = 0.048). There were no other associations found with pornography use (personal or partner) and body image or mental health, although this was limited by the small sample size. Most women (85%, 41/48) reported being happy with their partner’s pornography use, and in qualitative responses, indicated that pornography had minimal effect on their lives. Nevertheless, multiple qualitative responses indicated a multiplicity of perceived effects of pornography, including negative effects on body image. Conclusions: Pornography had a minor effect on mental health and body image in this study. Additional research is required to improve understanding of the effects of pornography on body image and mental health, particularly among vulnerable individuals.
Additional keywords: muscularity, objectification, relationships, social media.
References
[1] McKinley NM, Hyde JS. The objectified body consciousness scale Development and Validation. Psychol Women Q 1996; 20 181–215.| The objectified body consciousness scale Development and Validation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[2] Tiggemann M, Kuring JK. The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood. Br J Clin Psychol 2004; 43 299–311.
| The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15333234PubMed |
[3] Tylka TL, Kroon Van Diest AM. You looking at her “Hot” body may not be “Cool” for me: integrating male partners’ pornography use into objectification theory for women. Psychol Women Q 2015; 39 67–84.
| You looking at her “Hot” body may not be “Cool” for me: integrating male partners’ pornography use into objectification theory for women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[4] Szymanski DM, Henning SL. The role of self-objectification in women’s depression: a test of objectification theory. Sex Roles 2007; 56 45–53.
| The role of self-objectification in women’s depression: a test of objectification theory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[5] Tiggemann M, Williams E. The role of self-objectification in disordered eating, depressed mood, and sexual functioning among women a comprehensive test of objectification theory. Psychol Women Q 2012; 36 66–75.
| The role of self-objectification in disordered eating, depressed mood, and sexual functioning among women a comprehensive test of objectification theory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[6] Steer A, Tiggemann M. The role of self-objectification in women’s sexual functioning. J Soc Clin Psychol 2008; 27 205–225.
| The role of self-objectification in women’s sexual functioning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[7] Cave L, Fildes J, Luckett G, Wearring A. Mission Australia’s 2015 Youth Survey Report. Sydney: Mission Australia; 2015.
[8] Peter J, Valkenburg PM. Does exposure to sexually explicit Internet material increase body dissatisfaction? A longitudinal study. Comput Human Behav 2014; 36 297–307.
| Does exposure to sexually explicit Internet material increase body dissatisfaction? A longitudinal study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[9] Tylka TL. No harm in looking, right? Men’s pornography consumption, body image, and well-being. Psychol Men Masc 2015; 16 97–107.
| No harm in looking, right? Men’s pornography consumption, body image, and well-being.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[10] McKee A. Does pornography harm young people? Aust J Commun 2010; 37 17–36.
[11] Richters J, de Visser RO, Badcock PB, Smith AM, Rissel C, Simpson JM, Grulich AE. Masturbation, paying for sex, and other sexual activities: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Sex Health 2014; 11 461–71.
| Masturbation, paying for sex, and other sexual activities: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25376999PubMed |
[12] Mowat H, McDonald K, Dobson AS, Fisher J, Kirkman M. The contribution of online content to the promotion and normalisation of female genital cosmetic surgery: a systematic review of the literature. BMC Womens Health 2015; 15 110
| The contribution of online content to the promotion and normalisation of female genital cosmetic surgery: a systematic review of the literature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26608568PubMed |
[13] Sharp G, Tiggemann M, Mattiske J. Predictors of consideration of labiaplasty: an extension of the tripartite influence model of beauty ideals. Psychol Women Q 2015; 39 182–93.
| Predictors of consideration of labiaplasty: an extension of the tripartite influence model of beauty ideals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[14] Cranney S. Internet pornography use and sexual body image in a Dutch sample. Int J Sex Health 2015; 27 316–23.
| Internet pornography use and sexual body image in a Dutch sample.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26918066PubMed |
[15] Quadara A, El-Murr A, Latham J. The effects of pornography on children and young people: an evidence scan. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies; 2017.
[16] Griffiths S, Mitchison D, Murray SB, Mond JM. Pornography use in sexual minority males: associations with body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, thoughts about using anabolic steroids and quality of life. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2018; 52 339–48.
| Pornography use in sexual minority males: associations with body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, thoughts about using anabolic steroids and quality of life.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28891676PubMed |
[17] Bergner RM, Bridges AJ. The significance of heavy pornography involvement for romantic partners: research and clinical implications. J Sex Marital Ther 2002; 28 193–206.
| The significance of heavy pornography involvement for romantic partners: research and clinical implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11995598PubMed |
[18] Kohut T, Fisher WA, Campbell L. Perceived effects of pornography on the couple relationship: initial findings of open-ended, participant-informed, “Bottom-Up” research. Arch Sex Behav 2017; 46 585–602.
| Perceived effects of pornography on the couple relationship: initial findings of open-ended, participant-informed, “Bottom-Up” research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27393037PubMed |
[19] Wright PJ, Tokunaga RS. Women’s perceptions of their male partners’ pornography consumption and relational, sexual, self, and body satisfaction: toward a theoretical model. Ann Int Commun Assoc 2018; 42 55–73.
| Women’s perceptions of their male partners’ pornography consumption and relational, sexual, self, and body satisfaction: toward a theoretical model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[20] Kessler RC, Andrews G, Colpe LJ, Hiripi E, Mroczek DK, Normand S-LT, Walters EE, Zaslavsky AM. Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med 2002; 32 959–76.
| Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12214795PubMed |
[21] McCreary DR. The drive for muscularity scale: description, psychometrics, and research findings. In Thompson JK, Cafri G, editors. The muscular ideal: psychological, social, and medical perspectives. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2007. pp. 87–106.
[22] Patton GC, Sawyer SM, Santelli JS, Ross DA, Afifi R, Allen NB, Arora M, Azzopardi P, Baldwin W, Bonell C, Kakuma R, Kennedy E, Mahon J, McGovern T, Mokdad AH, Patel V, Petroni S, Reavley N, Taiwo K, Waldfogel J, et al Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing. Lancet 2016; 387 2423–78.
| Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27174304PubMed |
[23] Australian Bureau of Statistics. National health survey: first results Australia 2014–15. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2015.
[24] Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol 2006; 3 77–101.
| Using thematic analysis in psychology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[25] Lim MSC, Agius PA, Carrotte ER, Vella AM, Hellard ME. Young Australians’ use of pornography and associations with sexual risk behaviours. Aust N Z J Public Health 2017; 41 438–43.
| Young Australians’ use of pornography and associations with sexual risk behaviours.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28664609PubMed |
[26] Rissel C, Richters J, de Visser RO, McKee A, Yeung A, Caruana T. A profile of pornography users in Australia: findings from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships. J Sex Res 2017; 54 227–40.
| A profile of pornography users in Australia: findings from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27419739PubMed |
[27] Goldsmith K, Dunkley C, Dang S, Gorzalka B. Pornography consumption and its association with sexual concerns and expectations among young men and women. Can J Hum Sex 2017; 26 151–62.
| Pornography consumption and its association with sexual concerns and expectations among young men and women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[28] Stewart DN, Szymanski DM. Young adult women’s reports of their male romantic partner’s pornography use as a correlate of their self-esteem, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction. Sex Roles 2012; 67 257–71.
| Young adult women’s reports of their male romantic partner’s pornography use as a correlate of their self-esteem, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[29] Ramsey LR, Marotta JA, Hoyt T. Sexualized, objectified, but not satisfied: enjoying sexualization relates to lower relationship satisfaction through perceived partner-objectification. J Soc Pers Relat 2017; 34 258–78.
| Sexualized, objectified, but not satisfied: enjoying sexualization relates to lower relationship satisfaction through perceived partner-objectification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[30] Carrotte ER, Prichard I, Lim MS. “Fitspiration” on social media: a content analysis of gendered images. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19 e95
| “Fitspiration” on social media: a content analysis of gendered images.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28356239PubMed |
[31] Tiggemann M, Zaccardo M. “Exercise to be fit, not skinny”: the effect of fitspiration imagery on women’s body image. Body Image 2015; 15 61–7.
| “Exercise to be fit, not skinny”: the effect of fitspiration imagery on women’s body image.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26176993PubMed |
[32] Olmstead SB, Negash S, Pasley K, Fincham FD. Emerging adults’ expectations for pornography use in the context of future committed romantic relationships: a qualitative study. Arch Sex Behav 2013; 42 625–35.
| Emerging adults’ expectations for pornography use in the context of future committed romantic relationships: a qualitative study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22886349PubMed |
