Sexually Explicit Media (Pornography) and Dating Abuse

• In Event: Pornography, Sexting, and Jealousy: Associations with Teen Dating Violence

Abstract

There is growing interest in whether and how sexually explicit media (SEM) effect youth, adults, and society. This mixed-methods study entailed the collection of qualitative data from 23 youth, and quantitative data from 72 youth, who reported viewing SEM at least once in the past year. All youth were 16-18 years old. Hypothesis generating-research explored themes related to reasons for pornography use and consequences of it. Quantitative research questions included whether frequency of pornography use was associated with dating abuse victimization. Qualitative data suggest that underage youth have access to pornography featuring illegal behavior including rape and bestiality, that some youth view pornography during school, and that some youth disseminate their own homemade pornography without partners’ knowledge. Quantitative data demonstrate associations between pornography use and dating abuse victimization. For example, in this sample, approximately 50% of dating abuse victims and 32% of non-victims reported that they had been asked to do a sexual act that their partner saw in pornography, and 58% did not feel happy to have been asked. Methods for rigorous study of the possible influence of SEM on dating abuse are needed. “Pornography literacy” may be a useful subtopic of media literacy or sexual education.

Authors

• Emily F. Rothman, Boston University

• Jennifer Paruk, Boston University School of Public Health