Pornography use, relationship functioning and sexual satisfaction: The mediating role of differentiation in committed relationships
by Dellner, Danielle Kristina, Ph.D., ALLIANT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES, 2008, 167 pages; 3335233

Abstract:

The current study examined individuals in committed relationships to assess Differentiation, Relationship Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction as it pertains to frequency and type of sexually explicit material used. Data was collected from participants via online survey (N = 393). In this study, pornography (i.e. film, print) was distinguished from online sex (i.e. sexual chatting, emailing, viewing live/real-time sex). Study variables were analyzed to determine the links between use of pornography and Differentiation (Schnarch, 1997; Regas, 2007), Relationship Satisfaction (Hendrick, 1988), and Sexual Satisfaction (Regas, 2007). Lastly, exploratory analyses were performed on motivations for using pornography as it pertains to the study variables.

Distribution of gender was different than expected as 67.7% of the respondents were women. The percentage of participants who view pornography was also higher than expected with 78.9% of participants reported having viewed pornography in the past six months. Use of online sex was much lower, with 10.5% of women and 11.0% of men in the sample reporting they have engaged in online sexual activity with another person in the past six months.

Results of the current study support the need to distinguish pornography use from online sex in future research. Additionally, findings support the strength of the differentiation construct as the relationships between pornography use and relationship and sexual satisfaction disappeared after controlling for differentiation. Lastly, exploratory analyses on motivation revealed two factors—using pornography to "Cope", and using pornography to "Augment." The "Augment" motivation factor was found to have neutral or slightly positive relationships with study variables, whereas the "Cope" motivation factor was found to have strong negative relationships with Differentiation, Relationship Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction.

Implications for clinicians and future research are discussed, with focus on the importance of moving away from a "harms-based model" in understanding pornography use, in favor of a model that focuses on the meaning pornography use has for the individual.

 
AdviserEllin Bloch
SchoolALLIANT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
SourceDAI/B 69-10, p. , Jan 2009
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsSocial psychology; Clinical psychology
Publication Number3335233
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