Supervisors info:
Μασδράκης Βασίλειος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Τζαβέλας Ηλίας, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Τριανταφύλλου Καλλιόπη, Επιστημονική συνεργάτης, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Προβληματική χρήση πορνογραφίας στο διαδίκτυο και η σχέση με συμπτώματα άγχους, κατάθλιψης, στρες, και αισθήματος της μοναξιάς
Translated title:
Problematic use of pornography and its relationship with symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and loneliness
Summary:
Introduction: With the rapid growth of the Internet, both consumption of and access to online pornographic content has increased. The problematic use of pornographic material is inextricably linked to psychopathological manifestations, such as anxiety, depression and stress as well as social isolation and loneliness.
Aim: This study investigates the hypothesis that, individuals who use problematic pornography have higher rates of anxiety, depression and stress compared to those who do not. The study also focuses on whether individuals who use problematic pornography tend to have higher levels of loneliness.
Methods: Synchronous study was conducted in a sample of 325 subjects [(Women 60.6% (Ν=197), men 38.2% (N=124) and other 1.2% (N=4)], mean age M=29,94 years (SD=9,17). The sample collection process was conducted during the time period of 19 December 2023 to 5 January 2024 with the help and use of 'Google Questionnaires' platform. The study measured problematic porn viewing based on PPC Scale as well as anxiety, depression, stress and loneliness based on DASS-21 and UCLA respectively, with the aim of correlating problematic use with psychological disorders.
Results: A positive correlation was found between problematic use of pornography and the presence of symptoms of anxiety (rho: 0.249, p<0.001), depression (rho: 0.335, p<0.001) and stress (rho: 0.216, p<0.001), in agreement with the existing literature, while no statistically significant correlation was found with the feeling of loneliness (rho: 0.079, p>0.05). Regarding demographic characteristics, unmarried people (M=34.31, SD=20.07) showed the highest levels of problematic pornography use, as did students (M=31.41, SD=18.84) in terms of segregation by occupational status.
Conclusions: Problematic pornography use is associated with significantly more symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress, and is more common in unmarried and college students. The complexity of the effects of PPU (Problematic Pornography Use) is highlighted, suggesting that a multidimensional approach to address the problem and further research studies are needed. Problematic pornography use is a global phenomenon and the impact on patient psychology is significant. New data and enhancement of existing data can help clinicians to develop new strategies to deal with these complex situations.
Keywords: Pornography, Problematic use of pornography, Anxiety, Stress, Loneliness
Keywords:
Pornography, Problematic use of pornography, Anxiety, Stress, Loneliness
