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Fekih-Romdhane F, Haddad P, Roukoz R, Barakat M, Gerges S, Malaeb D, Obeid S, Hallit S. Does loneliness mediate the association between social media use disorder and sexual function in Lebanese university students? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 34:1835-1846. [PMID: 37594138 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2248005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Research on the association between social media use disorder (SMUD) and face-to-face sexual function remains controversial, surprisingly scarce and even non-existing in certain vulnerable populations such as university students. We aimed to explore the mediating role of loneliness between SMUD and two dimensions of sexual function (sexual arousal and desire) in a sample of Lebanese university students. A total of 363 university students participated in a cross-sectional survey. Sexual Dysfunction Questionnaire, Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale and Social Media Use Disorder scale were used to measure sexual function (desire and arousal), loneliness and SMUD respectively. The mediation analysis results showed that loneliness mediated the association between SMUD and sexual arousal (but not sexual desire). Higher SMUD was significantly associated with more loneliness, whereas more loneliness was significantly associated with less sexual arousal. Subsequently, higher SMUD was significantly associated with less sexual arousal. The present findings edge the university staff, clinicians, and researchers towards the psychological mechanisms that may help university students improve their sexual function, and calls for additional research in this area. Attention should be given to the possible potential role of moderating social media use in tackling loneliness and improving students' sexual function. In addition, routine sexual counseling should be considered when assessing and intervening with students having SMUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feten Fekih-Romdhane
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
- The Tunisian Center of Early Intervention in Psychosis, Department of psychiatry "Ibn Omrane", Razi hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Patrick Haddad
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Lebanon
| | - Roger Roukoz
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Lebanon
| | - Muna Barakat
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
- MEU Research Unit, Middle East University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sarah Gerges
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, Lebanon
| | - Diana Malaeb
- College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International Univeristy, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sahar Obeid
- Social and Education Sciences Department, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Jbeil, Lebanon
| | - Souheil Hallit
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh, Lebanon
- Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
- Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon
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2
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Fotinos K, Sansone A, Greifenberger A, Katzman MA, Jannini TB, Reisman Y, Limoncin E, Jannini EA. Pornography and sexual function in the post-pandemic period: a narrative review from psychological, psychiatric, and sexological perspectives. Int J Impot Res 2024:10.1038/s41443-023-00812-3. [PMID: 38184709 DOI: 10.1038/s41443-023-00812-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns had significant impacts on sexual functioning and behavior. Partnered sexual activity decreased overall, while solo sex activities such as masturbation and pornography consumption increased exponentially. Given the ongoing debate about the effects of pornography on sexual function, it was prudent to consider how the increase in porn consumption during the pandemic might have impacted sexual function in the post-pandemic period. Results indicated that despite the increased rates of use during lockdowns, there remains no evidence supporting the relationship between sexual dysfunction and porn use during and following the pandemic period. On the contrary, pornography consumption and solo sex activities offered an alternative to conventional sexual behavior during a highly stressful period and were found to have positive effects of relieving psychosocial stress otherwise induced by the pandemic. Specifically, those who maintained an active sexual life experienced less anxiety and depression, and greater relational health than those who were not sexually active. It is important to consider factors including frequency, context, and type of consumption when analyzing the impact of pornography on sexual function. While excessive use can have negative effects, moderate use can be a natural and healthy part of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Fotinos
- Course of Clinical Psychosexology, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Stress Trauma Anxiety Rehabilitation Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.) Clinic for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea Sansone
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alexandria Greifenberger
- Stress Trauma Anxiety Rehabilitation Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.) Clinic for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Martin A Katzman
- Stress Trauma Anxiety Rehabilitation Treatment (S.T.A.R.T.) Clinic for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Adler Graduate Professional School, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Tommaso B Jannini
- School of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Erika Limoncin
- Course of Clinical Psychosexology, Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emmanuele A Jannini
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Ghaznavi C, Ueda P, Okuhama A, Sakamoto H. Sexual Behaviors among Individuals Aged 20-49 in Japan: Initial Findings from a Quasi-Representative National Survey, 2022. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:9-20. [PMID: 36842974 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2178614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nationally representative data on sexual health and behaviors in Japan are scarce. We conducted an online survey, including questions about a range of topics related to sexual behaviors and outcomes. The sample, including 8000 men and women aged 20-49 years in Japan, was stratified by sex and weighted with respect to age, marital status, and region of residence to reflect the population of Japan. Of the women, 82.9% and 10.0% reported that they were heterosexual and asexual, respectively; corresponding proportions for men were 87.4% and 6.9%. 15.3% of women and 19.8% of men reported never having had any partners with whom they engaged in vaginal, anal, or oral sex. 45.3% of women and 44.5% of men reported not having had any sexual partners during the past year; this proportion was highest among women aged 40-49 years (51.7%) and men aged 20-29 years (55.1%). The proportion of those reporting satisfaction with their sex life was 27.8% for women and 23.1% for men; 17.6% of women and 27.1% of men reported dissatisfaction. Pornography use of ≥3 times per week was most common among those aged 20-29 years (6.5% of women; 34.8% of men), and the frequency of pornography use decreased slightly with age. 4.0% of women and 48.3% of men reported ever having used commercial sex worker services in their lifetime. This survey-based study provides data on sexual behaviors and health outcomes in Japan. Compared to other high-income countries, levels of sexual inexperience and inactivity seem to be high in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrus Ghaznavi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University
- Medical Education Program, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis
| | - Peter Ueda
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet
| | - Ayako Okuhama
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
| | - Haruka Sakamoto
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research
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4
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Ince C, Fontenelle LF, Carter A, Albertella L, Tiego J, Chamberlain SR, Rotaru K. Clarifying and extending our understanding of problematic pornography use through descriptions of the lived experience. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18193. [PMID: 37875697 PMCID: PMC10598215 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45459-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Problematic pornography use (PPU) is a complex and growing area of research. However, knowledge of the PPU lived experience is limited. To address this gap, we conducted an online qualitative study with 67 individuals who self-identified as having problematic pornography use (76% male; Mage = 24.70 years, SD = 8.54). Results indicated several dimensions that have not been fully explored in the literature. These included various mental and physical complaints following periods of heavy pornography use, sexual functioning deficits with real partners, and a subjectively altered state of sexual arousal while using pornography. Moreover, we expanded on current knowledge regarding the inner conflict associated with PPU and clarified the ways that users can progress to increasingly intensified patterns of pornography use, such as tolerance/escalation and pornographic binges. Our study highlights the complex and nuanced nature of PPU and provides suggestions for future research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Campbell Ince
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
| | - Leonardo F Fontenelle
- Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adrian Carter
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Lucy Albertella
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Jeggan Tiego
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Samuel R Chamberlain
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Kristian Rotaru
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Monash Business School, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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Lebedíková M. Good servant, bad master: How eighty women perceive the influence of pornography on sexual scripts. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2023; 25:1310-1323. [PMID: 36607166 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2022.2155707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Women are often portrayed as the victims of pornography. Their active consumption and the ways in which pornography shapes their sexuality are still under-researched. This article has three goals: to explore how and why young women watch pornography; to analyse how they perceive the influence of pornography on their sexual scripts; and to determine related positive and negative factors. Guided by sexual script theory, I thematically analysed responses from an open-ended form completed by 80 young Czech women (18-30 years old). The analysis resulted in six themes related to cultural, interpersonal and intrapsychic sexual scripts - in other words, the domains of what is societally appropriate, interpersonal relationships, and inner desires. These findings have important implications: pornography simultaneously influences several domains of sexuality. Findings show that under certain conditions, pornography may be beneficial for sexual empowerment and sexual satisfaction, but at the same time, it may also produce negative effects - providing a complex and often contradictory experience for the individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Lebedíková
- Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
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De Win G, Jacobs T, Geuens S. Do pornography use and masturbation play a role in erectile dysfunction and relationship satisfaction in men? Int J Impot Res 2023; 35:581-584. [PMID: 36450920 DOI: 10.1038/s41443-022-00644-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gunter De Win
- Department of Urology, Adolescent Urology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Adolescent Urology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK.
| | - Tim Jacobs
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sam Geuens
- PXL University College of Applied Arts & Sciences, Department of Healthcare - Midwifery and Nursing Science, Hasselt, Belgium
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Svedin CG, Donevan M, Bladh M, Priebe G, Fredlund C, Jonsson LS. Associations between adolescents watching pornography and poor mental health in three Swedish surveys. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 32:1765-1780. [PMID: 35524827 PMCID: PMC10460300 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-01992-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the association between watching pornography and poor mental health in three repeated cross-sectional surveys in Sweden (2004, 2009, 2014) among high school seniors (13,277 students) with an average age of 18 years. The same index questions concerning ever having watched pornography and the frequency of watching pornography during the last year were combined with three different measures of psychological health and background control variables in multiple logistic regression and forward stepwise logistic regression models. The repeated cross-sectional surveys did not find any consistent associations across years between poor mental health and ever having watched pornography or the frequency of watching pornography. Having watched deviant pornography (containing violence, children and/or animals) was associated with poor mental health among boys in two surveys but only in one survey among girls. Other characteristics, such as mother's unemployment (especially boys), parenting style (especially high controlling parents among boys) and experiences of sexual abuse (especially penetrating abuse among girls), were more consistently and strongly associated to poor mental health across the three surveys. This study stresses the importance of controlling for multiple background variables when studying the association between watching pornography and mental health, since the association might primarily be explained by underlying confounding variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. G. Svedin
- Department of Social Sciences, Marie Cederschiöld University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M. Donevan
- Department of Social Sciences, Marie Cederschiöld University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M. Bladh
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - G. Priebe
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Social and Psychological Studies, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - C. Fredlund
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - L. S. Jonsson
- Department of Social Sciences, Marie Cederschiöld University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Sanz-Barbero B, Pérez-Martínez V, Estévez-García JF, Vives-Cases C. Is sexual attraction and place of origin a moderator of sex in pornography consumption? Cross-sectional study on a representative sample of young adults. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1347. [PMID: 37442986 PMCID: PMC10339620 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16216-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pornography consumption is higher in men, but we do not know if this association can be modified by different variables, such as sexual attraction and place of origin. Given the impact pornography has on minors, there are limited studies that analyze the use of pornography in representative samples of the adult population. The aim was analyze the prevalence and factors associated with using pornography in young adult men and women, living in Spain, with different sexual attractions and different places of birth. METHODS Cross-sectional study with an online survey conducted with 2515 men and women aged between 18 and 35 years of age. The prevalence of pornography consumption is described and analyzed in the total sample and stratified by sex, according to socio-demographic and sexual attraction variables. The association between covariates and pornography consumption at some point in life was estimated with prevalence ratios (PR) obtained with the Poisson models of robust variance. DEPENDENT VARIABLE voluntarily using pornography at some point in life. Socio-demographic variables were included in the analysis: age, sex, level of education, place of birth. Sexual attraction was also analyzed. RESULTS In Spain, 94.7% of men between 18 and 34 years and 74.6% of women have voluntarily used pornography at some point in their life. The mean age to start using it is earlier in men [Mean:14.2; Standard Deviation (SD):2.3]. Bisexual/homosexual attraction (reference: heterosexual) increases the probability of using pornography in women [(PR (95%CI): 1.30 (1.22; 1.38)]. Yet this is not observed in men. In both sexes, the probability of using pornography increases with age [(PR (95%CI): 1.01(1.00; 1.01)] and coming from abroad (reference: native), being the effect of country of birth significantly higher in women [(PR (95%CI): 1.17 (1.09; 1.26)] than in men [(PR (95%CI): 1.04 (1.01; 1.07). CONCLUSIONS Public health programmes aimed at improving affective-sexual health should consider the high use of pornography among young adults in Spain, as well as those variables that increase its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Sanz-Barbero
- National School of Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Vanesa Pérez-Martínez
- Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public health and History of Science Department, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
| | | | - Carmen Vives-Cases
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public health and History of Science Department, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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Cerwenka S, Pietras L, Dekker A, Briken P. Living without Partnered Sex in Germany. Results From the First Representative, Population-based German Health and Sexuality Survey (GeSiD). JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2022:1-16. [PMID: 36562463 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2022.2158976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Broader insights into the life situations of sexually inactive adults in Germany are widely unexplored. Within the nationally-representative survey GeSiD (German Health and Sexuality Survey), undertaken 2018-2019, data of 4,758 participants with lifetime interpersonal sexual experience aged 18-75 years (men: n = 2234; women: n = 2524) were analyzed in regards to partnered sexual inactivity in the past 12 months (PSI; no genital-involving sexual contact with another person). Overall, advanced age, being single and impaired health conditions were associated with PSI. Data showed gender-specific associations with PSI, such as less alcohol, smoking and drug use in women. PSI was associated with lower general life satisfaction throughout different age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Cerwenka
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Laura Pietras
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne Dekker
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peer Briken
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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10
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Hustad IB, Malmqvist K, Ivanova E, Rück C, Enander J. Does Size Matter? Genital Self-Image, Genital Size, Pornography Use and Openness Toward Cosmetic Genital Surgery in 3503 Swedish Men and Women. J Sex Med 2022; 19:1378-1386. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Fuzeiro V, Martins C, Gonçalves C, Santos AR, Costa RM. Sexual Function and Problematic Use of Smartphones and Social Networking Sites. J Sex Med 2022; 19:1303-1308. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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12
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Internet Addiction and Polish Women’s Sexual Functioning: The Role of Social Media, Online Pornography, and Game Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Online Surveys Based on FSFI and BSMAS Questionnaires. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19138193. [PMID: 35805852 PMCID: PMC9266178 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the relationship between social media use and women’s sexual functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected between April and November 2021. Online surveys including the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) questionnaires were distributed to young, sexually active women. Information was collected on their demographics, sexual life, and use of social media. We enrolled 546 women (mean age 23.07 ± 4.69). In general, 5.68% of the women were at high risk of social media addiction. Social media addiction had a negative impact on FSFI scores, while pornography use had a positive effect on women’s sexual functioning. Users of dating apps also obtained lower FSFI scores than non-users. No differences in FSFI scores were observed between gamers and non-gamers. The impact of time spent on social media on FSFI scores was not significant. We conclude that social media addiction negatively affected women’s sexual functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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13
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Komlenac N, Hochleitner M. Associations Between Pornography Consumption, Sexual Flexibility, and Sexual Functioning Among Austrian Adults. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:1323-1336. [PMID: 34984569 PMCID: PMC8888391 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02201-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
To date, only a few studies have examined the associations between pornography consumption and sexual functioning. The Acquisition, Activation, Application Model (3AM) indicates that the frequency of pornography consumption and the perceived realism of pornography may influence whether sexual scripts are acquired from viewed pornography. Having sexual scripts that are alternative to their preferred sexual behaviors may help people switch to alternative sexual behavior when sexual problems arise. The current study analyzed whether frequent pornography consumption was associated with greater sexual flexibility and greater sexual functioning. Additionally, the perceived realism of pornography consumption was tested as a moderator of those associations. At an Austrian medical university, an online cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 644 medical students (54% women and 46% men; Mage = 24.1 years, SD = 3.8). The participants were asked about their pornography consumption, partnered sexual activity, sexual flexibility, perceived realism of pornography, and sexual functioning. Manifest path analyses revealed direct and indirect associations between frequent pornography consumption and greater sexual functioning through greater sexual flexibility in women but not in men. Perceived realism did not moderate those associations. In conclusion, our study was in line with previous studies that found no significant associations between men's pornography consumption and sexual functioning in men. However, some women may expand their sexual scripts and learn new sexual behaviors from pornography consumption, which may help with their sexual functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Komlenac
- Gender Medicine Unit, Medical University of Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl Strasse 3, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Margarethe Hochleitner
- Gender Medicine Unit, Medical University of Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl Strasse 3, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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