Abstract
Previous research suggests that pornography use, under certain circumstances, may negatively influence the quality of romantic relationships. Yet we still know relatively little about whether watching pornography is associated with the stability of romantic relationships later on. This study examined whether Americans who use pornography, either at all or more frequently, are more prone to report experiencing a romantic breakup over time. Longitudinal data were taken from the 2006 and 2012 waves of the nationally representative Portraits of American Life Study (N=969). Binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated that Americans who viewed pornography at all in 2006 were nearly twice as likely as those who never viewed pornography to report experiencing a romantic breakup by 2012, even after controlling for relevant factors such as 2006 relationship status and other sociodemographic correlates. This association was considerably stronger for men than for women and for unmarried Americans than for married Americans. Analyses also showed a linear relationship between how frequently Americans viewed pornography in 2006 and their odds of experiencing a breakup by 2012. Findings affirm that earlier pornography use predicts lower stability within Americans’ romantic relationships, especially for men and the unmarried. Data limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
A few interesting excerpts:
While the likelihood of women experiencing a breakup only rose about 34 percent with earlier porn viewing (from 15.4 percent to 23.5 percent), the likelihood of male porn users experiencing a breakup was over 3.5 times that of non-porn users (22.5 percent compared to 6.3 percent).
For every unit increase in porn viewing frequency in 2006, the odds of experiencing a breakup by 2012 increased by 14 percent.
Earlier pornography viewing, either at all or in greater frequencies, is not a significant predictor of breakup for Americans who were married in 2006. Conversely, both pornography use measures are significant predictors of breakup for all those who were unmarried.
An estimated 44 percent of unmarried porn users [experienced] a breakup compared to only 24.5 percent of unmarried non-users, net of controls.
Among those who “never” viewed pornography in 2006, about 13 percent experienced a breakup by 2012, but this number increased to about 23 percent for those who viewed pornography at some point in 2006.
Respondents could have broken off numerous relationships during this time frame, each for different reasons. Yet neither of these limitations changes the fact that pornography viewers, and especially men, are considerably more likely to report experiencing a breakup or that the likelihood of breakup increased with virtually every increase in porn viewing frequency earlier on. Moreover, these associations were robust even when controlling for a variety of potential confounders.
Because men tend to view pornography more often than women, and more often by themselves for the purposes of masturbation (Bridges & Morokoff, 2011; Maddox et al., 2011; Poulsen et al., 2013), scripting theory would predict that men would be more affected by the messages conveyed through that media.
An alternative pathway through which pornography might be influencing relationship stability is by its connection to the relationship more directly, through the relationship partner [feelings of insecurity or betrayal, especially if it has been connected to dishonesty or hiding].
This suggests that earlier and more frequent pornography use may shape Americans’ likelihood of breakup in future relationships, and not just those they are in currently. This would also lend support to the scripting perspective.
DISCUSSION SECTION
This study sought to examine whether earlier pornography use predicts a greater likelihood of experiencing a breakup later on. Using longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of Americans, the findings have affirmed that earlier pornography use, both in general and corresponding to greater use frequency, predict a higher likelihood of experiencing a romantic breakup within the following six years. Moreover, it was also shown that gender moderates the association between earlier porn use and the likelihood of breakup such that men’s relationships seem more strongly associated with exposure to porn than those of women. Lastly, analyses showed that the association between earlier porn use and the likelihood of breakup over time extended primarily to persons who were unmarried in 2006. While those who were married in 2006 also seemed somewhat more likely to experience breakup if they were porn users (see Figure 3), this association did not attain statistical significance.
Before discussing the implications of this study, several data limitations should be acknowledged in order to chart a path for future research. First and most obviously, the data are unable to discern precisely why a respondent experienced a breakup between 2006 and 2012. Respondents were only asked whether they broke off a steady relationship, and thus for many it may have had nothing to do with pornography. A related limitation is that respondents could have broken off numerous relationships during this time frame, each for different reasons. Yet neither of these limitations changes the fact that pornography viewers, and especially men, are considerably more likely to report experiencing a breakup or that the likelihood of breakup increased with virtually every increase in porn viewing frequency earlier on. Moreover, these associations were robust even when controlling for a variety of potential confounders. Nevertheless, future studies on this topic would ideally allow respondents to elaborate on their relationship history and the factors contributing to the dissolution of their relationships. A third limitation is that pornography use is only measured in 2006 and thus the study is unable to discern whether respondents maintained a particular frequency of pornography use through the next wave. Certainly, pornography use often ebbs and flows corresponding to different life seasons and events (Paul, 2005). A related limitation is that the data do not indicate what type of pornography a respondent was viewing or whether they were actually viewing it with their partner in 2006. Previous studies have found that these factors, and especially whether pornography is viewed with a partner, can moderate the association between pornography use and romantic relationships (Bridges & Morokoff, 2011; Maddox et al., 2011; Poulsen et al., 2013; Willoughby et al., 2016). Future studies, then, ideally using dyadic data, should take these factors into account as well. Qualitative interviews would also be helpful to flesh out specific mechanisms at work in these relationships.
These limitations notwithstanding, the current study has contributed to the literatures on pornography use and committed romantic relationships in several important ways. First, the findings affirm that earlier pornography use significantly predicts relational instability, particularly for men. Holding relationship status constant, along with other relevant correlates, pornography viewers were almost twice as likely to experience a romantic breakup in the six years following the initial survey, and over 3.5 times as likely if they were men. Moreover, this relationship extends not only to the presence of pornography in a person’s life, but how frequently they view pornography. Put simply, the more often someone viewed pornography in 2006, the more likely they were to experience a romantic breakup by 2012.
Pornography’s observed association with relationship stability may flow through different paths. Following social learning and scripting theories, it could be that habitual pornography use shapes porn users themselves, causing them to devalue monogamy and fidelity or to have unrealistic expectations about body image or sexual interactions that can negatively influence their relationship commitment (Gagnon & Simon, 1973; Sun et al., 2016; Weinberg, et al., 2010; Wright, 2013; Wright et al. 2013; Wright et al., 2014; Zillmann & Bryant, 1988). This would help explain why the association between pornography use and breakup was stronger for men. Because men tend to view pornography more often than women, and more often by themselves for the purposes of masturbation (Bridges & Morokoff, 2011; Maddox et al., 2011; Poulsen et al., 2013), scripting theory would predict that men would be more affected by the messages conveyed through that media.
An alternative pathway through which pornography might be influencing relationship stability is by its connection to the relationship more directly, through the relationship partner. Studies have often found that spouses or dating partners can react negatively to their companion habitually using pornography, especially if it is without them (Bergner & Bridges, 2002; Bridges, Bergner, & Hesson-McInnis, 2003; Daneback, et al., 2009; Grov, et al., 2011; Schneider, 2000; Stewart & Szymanksi, 2012; Zitzman & Butler, 2009). A partner’s pornography use can contribute to feelings of insecurity or betrayal, especially if it has been connected to dishonesty or hiding. While many heterosexual couples view pornography together and find that it enhances the relationship (Maddox et al., 2011; Willoughby et al., 2016), men still use pornography alone in such relationships far more often than women and this potentially sets up a dynamic where female partners feel inadequate and insecure, and consequently, less committed to the relationship or resentful, with either feeling contributing to greater likelihood of breakup. In reality, pornography use is likely connected to relational instability through both of these pathways, at different levels and for different persons depending on circumstances. Future research could further explore these dynamics through qualitative interviews with both romantic partners.
A second implication is that, because pornography use is increasing in the United States, and primarily among younger Americans (Price et al., 2016), relational instability may also increase, either because porn use itself contributes to relational disruption or because Americans who use pornography may already be more prone to relational breakup. Perhaps both Even if pornography use somehow negatively influences relationship stability, it is important to point out that earlier pornography use predicts later relational breakup for those who were single (never married) in 2006. While some of these Americans might have been in committed dating relationships, many were likely unattached at the time. This suggests that earlier and more frequent pornography use may shape Americans’ likelihood of breakup in future relationships, and not just those they are in currently. This would also lend support to the scripting perspective. Future studies should explore how increasing pornography use over time may relate to either greater instances of breakup and divorce, or, on the other side, lower marriage rates since pornography use may lessen esteem for traditional relationship forms and/or disincentivize getting married.
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