engleski

The Dynamics of Adolescents’ Pornography Use and Psychological Well-Being: A 6-Wave Latent Growth and Latent Class Modeling Approach

Background and Objectives: Despite increasing concerns that pornography decreases adolescents’ well-being, existing empirical support for this position is largely limited to cross-sectional studies. To explore possible links between adolescent pornography use and psychological well-being more systematically, this study focused on parallel dynamics in pornography use, self-esteem and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Methods: A sample of 775 female and 514 male Croatian high-school students (Mage at baseline = 15.9 years, SD = 0.52) from 14 larger secondary schools, who were surveyed six times at approximately 5- month intervals, was used for analyses. The longitudinal data were analyzed using latent growth curve and latent class growth modeling. Results: We observed no significant correspondence between growth in pornography use and changes in the two indicators of psychological well-being over time in either female or male participants. However, a significant negative association was found between female adolescents’ pornography use and psychological well-being at baseline. Controlling for group-specific trajectories of pornography use (i.e., latent classes) confirmed the robustness of findings in the both female and male samples. Conclusions: This study’s findings do not corroborate the notion that pornography use in middle to late adolescence contributes to adverse psychological well-being, but do not rule out such a link during an earlier developmental phase—particularly in female adolescents. The findings have ramifications for educational and adolescent health specialists, but also for concerned parents.

Adolescents ; Pornography use ; Depression and anxiety, Self-esteem, Psychological well-being

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