C. Bulota, , , B. Leurentb, , F. Collierc,
Volume 24, Issue 4, October–December 2015, Pages e78–e83
Summary
Introduction
The pornography industry is a pervasive influence on adolescents, nearly all of whom are exposed to it via the internet, either willingly or unwillingly and at a more or less premature age. Is there an association between exposure to pornography and some forms of risk behaviour?
Method
Eight hundred and twelve Lille students responded anonymously to a questionnaire given to them on the occasion of a consultation at a health centre. Logistic and linear regressions were used for statistical analysis.
Findings
Nearly all men and 80% of women had been exposed to pornography. The average age of initial exposure was 15.2 years.
Exposure at a premature age is associated with sexual activity at a younger age and with a greater inclination to seek out casual partners and use cannabis more frequently. The age of exposure does not on the other hand appear to have any influence on the number of sexual partners, the practice of anal penetration, alcohol or tobacco consumption, contraceptive use and taking risks in terms of sexually transmitted infections.
Frequent viewing of pornographic images is associated with sexual activity at a younger age, a larger number of sexual partners, an inclination to seek out casual partners, the practice of anal penetration, a lower level of prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies and finally, a higher consumption of alcohol and cannabis. In conclusion, these findings should be taken into account, and should lead those involved in sexual health and sex education to increase the amount of information they provide to adolescents.
Keywords
- Pornography;
- Students;
- Sexual behaviour;
- Risk behaviour;
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
Excerpts from study:
“Eighty-six percent of the students have been exposed to IPNs, mostly online. The frequency of exposure is greater for men than for women (98.7% vs 78.8%), but men are also exposed at an earlier age: the average age at which men start to be exposed is 14.5, whereas for women, it is 15.8. Nearly one student in two states that they were unwillingly exposed to IPNs. A quarter of the students’ views pornographic sites 1 to 4 times a month and 9% of them consume pornography more than once a week. The frequency of exposure varies greatly between men and women. This becomes clearer when it comes to ‘‘regular consumers’’, a phenomenon which concerns 18.4% of men, but merely 1.6% of women.”
” The impact of the frequency of exposure to IPNs was studied among ‘‘regular consumers’’ (more than once a month)and ‘‘very regular consumers’’ (more than once a week).There is a significant link to the age of a person’s first sexual experience. This is reduced by 3 to 4 months where there is regular consumption of IPNs. This is also correlated to a larger number of sexual partners, to an inclination to seek out casual partners, not to use condoms despite the lack of screening, to practise anal penetration, and finally to less frequent recourse to contraception.”
Discussion
This study was done in a university environment essentially made up of private schools, attendance of which is voluntary and is reserved for students from families who belong to privileged socio-economic strata. There is therefore, in this case, probably a selection bias. However, the findings made as the result of this work are largely in line with recent studies of the behaviour of young adults (Beltzer and Bajos, 2008; Beltzer et al., 2010; ESCAPAD, 2011; Beck et al., 2013).
All the work done in this area is in fact unanimous in concluding that pornography is a pervasive influence on young people and that men consume it at an earlier age and more frequently than women (Bajos and Bozon, 2008; Bajos et al., 2008; Brown and L’Engle, 2009; Haggstrom-Nordin, 2005; Wallmyr and Welin, 2006; Ybarra and Mitchell, 2005; Haldet al., 2013; Morgan, 2011).
This is also confirmed by the surveys done by the research institute (IFOP, 2009, 2013).
Association between consumption of pornography and sexual behaviour
It seems a given that the use of pornography by adolescents or young adults considerably influences their sexual behaviour.
Young consumers of pornography, overall, have more partners (Braun-Courville and Rojas, 2009; Morgan, 2011;Kraus and Russell, 2008), sexual relationships at an earlier age (Odeyemi et al., 2009; Morgan, 2011; Kraus and Russell, 2008), different sexual practices, with notably more frequent practice of anal penetration (Haggstrom-Nordin,2005; Brown and L’Engle, 2009; Braun-Courville and Rojas, 2009).
None of this seems to be heading in the direction of a flourishing sex life. In fact, an American study of 800 students shows that a higher frequency of consumption of IPNs is associated with a lower level of sexual satisfaction(Morgan, 2011).
In another American work, the study focused on the premature age of exposure of adolescents. In boys, being exposed at such a premature age leads to more permissive sexual norms and an increase in the practice of anal and oral sex. In girls, it would, on the contrary, have an impact on their sexual norms by making them less permissive (Brownand L’ Engle, 2009).
Association between consumption of pornography and risk behaviour
This survey seems to establish a significant link between the consumption of pornography and some risk behaviour, but is not able to specify the direction and nature of this link between cause and effect. Several works confirm this link. A 2005 American study shows that adolescents who view pornographic films willingly engage in more delinquent behaviour and consume more psychoactive substances (Ybarra and Mitchell, 2005).
In 2011, a Swedish study also showed that the frequent consumption of pornography by young male adults is linked to a more frequent consumption of alcohol (Svedin et al.,2011).
Regular consumers of pornography have more sexual partners (Braun-Courville and Rojas, 2009; Morgan, 2011;Kraus and Russell, 2008).
However, this is not matched by greater recourse to protection against STIs through the use of condoms. Thus, the association between the consumption of pornography and the taking of risks when it comes to STIs has been demonstrated, at least as far as men are concerned (Tydén and Rogala, 2004; Luder et al., 2011). This is disputed when it comes to women (Peter and Valkenburg, 2011).
As indicated above, given the fact that recourse to condoms is less frequent in these cases, sex involving anal sex may be considered to be risk behaviour. A Swedish study done on 18-year-old adolescents highlighted the fact that ‘‘large consumers’’ of pornography had more relationships involving anal sex and that they were less well protected(only 39% used a condom) (Haggstrom-Nordin, 2005).
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