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

Autori
Štulhofer, Aleksandar ; Tafro, Azra ; Kohut, Taylor

Izvornik
European child & adolescent psychiatry (1018-8827) 28 (2019), 12; 1567-1579

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

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

Sažetak
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.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Sociologija, Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA