engleski

Associations between Pornography Use and Adolescents’ Risky Sexual Behaviors: A Longitudinal Study

Current Internet accessibility and affordability has facilitated widespread pornography use among adolescents. Potential pornography-related harms to adolescents’ sexual development and well-being have prompted concerns among general public, educational experts and policy makers about pornography- related risky sexual behaviors. This hyper- vigilant climate over pornography-related harms even led to UK’s government enforcing online traffic restrictions by making a variety of web sites, including pornographic sites, available by request only. At the same time, this research topic has been predominantly explored using cross-sectional design, because experimental studies on pornography use among adolescents are not feasible and only a few longitudinal studies have addressed this problem. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis with lagged outcome, this study assessed whether pornography use at the baseline predicted adolescents’ risky sexual behavior at a six and twelve-months follow-up. Indicators of risky sexual behavior were: (1) reporting two or more sexual partners and (2) not using a condom at the most recent sexual intercourse. Two independent longitudinal studies of adolescents were used for the analysis: an online panel in Zagreb (N = 711 ; M age at baseline = 16.2 ; SD = .50) and a classroom-based panel in Rijeka (N = 942 ; M age at baseline = 16.3 ; SD = .52). Adolescents’ risky sexual behavior was assessed at a twelve-months follow-up in Zagreb panel and at six-months follow-up in Rijeka panel. The data was collected during 2015 and 2016. The findings, consistent across the two samples, did not confirm temporal associations between pornography use and risky sexual behaviors among adolescents. Although our findings extend the current knowledge about the association between pornography and risky sexual behaviors, limited statistical power should be taken into consideration. Additional prospective analyses of this important public health topic, characterized by mixed findings, are needed.

Associations between Pornography Use and Adolescents’ Risky Sexual Behaviors: A Longitudinal Study

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