Problematic Internet Pornography Use and Psychological Distress among Emerging Adults in Malaysia

Gender as a Moderator

Bibliographic Data

ID15464697
AuthorsSoon-Aun Tan (0000-0003-0454-3734, Universiti Sains Malaysia, corresponding author), Yee Shan Goh (0000-0002-9872-9793, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman), Norzarina Mohd Zaharim (0000-0001-5954-2822, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Su Wan Gan (0000-0003-0672-2031, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman), Chin Choo Yap (0000-0001-9461-9653, Sunway University), Sarvarubini Nainee (0000-0003-0428-2239, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman), Ling Khai Lee (0000-0002-1763-569X, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue6
Pages3682-3682
Publication date2022-03-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19063682
PMID35329369
OpenAlexW4220977288
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited50

Internet pornography use (IPU) refers to Internet-based sexually explicit materials that are ultimately used to elicit sexual feelings or thoughts. The accessibility of Internet pornography could lead to excessive exposure to pornographic messages, posing a risk to heavy users' psychological health. This paper offers a preliminary understanding of the relationship between Internet pornography use and psychological distress among emerging adults and the moderating role of gender in the association. This cross-sectional study has taken a purposive sampling approach to recruit 144 emerging adult pornography users via the online survey method. The results indicated that males reported having more problematic Internet pornography use, and there were no gender differences in psychological distress. Meanwhile, gender is a significant moderator between Internet pornography use and psychological distress. The females were found to be more psychologically affected by their problematic Internet pornography use than the males. Overall, this study has provided a novel finding of the moderating role of gender in problematic Internet pornography use and psychological distress in the Malaysian context. This study also calls for a gender-focused sexual health programme for Malaysian emerging adults. Furthermore, the scores of problematic IPU in this study raise a concern over the effectiveness of current sex education in Malaysia. The scores may highlight the need to provide education targeting Internet pornography use

Context (archaeology · Distress · Environmental health · Feeling · Mental health · Moderation · Poison control · Pornography · Psychiatry · Psychological distress · Suicide and the Internet · Suicide prevention · The Internet · Clinical Psychology · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology

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