Gender Differences in Associations Between Problematic Pornography Use and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: Insights From a Large‐Scale Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction Problematic pornography use (PPU) has been associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. These associations have been studied in clinical and adolescent samples, but little attention has been paid to gender differences in international general population samples. This study examined relationships between PPU, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms, with a focus on potential gender differences. Method Data were obtained from the International Sex Survey (ISS), a large‐scale, cross‐sectional study conducted across 42 countries. It involved 82,243 participants (Mean age = 32.39 years, SD = 12.52; 39.6% men, 57.0% women, 3.4% gender diverse). Participants completed validated measures, including the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS) and the Brief Symptom Inventory’s (BSI‐18) depression and anxiety symptoms subscales. A one‐way ANOVA was used to assess gender differences, while regression analysis examined the role of gender (i.e., men, women, and gender‐diverse individuals) in the associations between psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety symptoms) and PPU. Results Men reported the highest PPU levels, whereas gender‐diverse participants reported the highest anxiety and depression levels, followed by women. PPU was positively correlated with anxiety and depression symptoms, with small‐to‐moderate associations ( r = 0.207 and r = 0.249, respectively). Gender significantly moderated both associations, with the steepest positive slopes among men, suggesting that they might rely more heavily on pornography as a maladaptive coping mechanism. Conclusions This study highlights differences between PPU and mental health across gender identities. While gender‐diverse individuals experience the highest levels of psychological distress, men demonstrate the strongest link between such distress and PPU. These findings highlight the need for gender‐sensitive mental‐health interventions addressing PPU and its psychological implications.
Source: Depression and Anxiety
DOI: 10.1155/da/5293861
Institutions: University of Hertfordshire, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Trento, University of Salerno, University of Duisburg-Essen, Eötvös Loránd University, Flinders University, University of Gibraltar, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Yale University, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Université de Montréal
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
Funders: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Smoking Research Foundation, Narodowym Centrum Nauki, National Cheng Kung University, Telecommunications Advancement Foundation, Région Hauts-de-France, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, National Social Science Fund of China
OpenAlex ID: W7225063007