"I THINK IT HAS BEEN A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE IN MANY WAYS BUT AT THE SAME TIME I CAN'T STOP USING IT": SELF-IDENTIFIED PROBLEMATIC PORNOGRAPHY USE AMONG A SAMPLE OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS

Abstract

Online pornography use among young people has raised concerns over the potential for “pornography addiction”. There are no diagnostic criteria for pornography addiction and little is known about young people’s experience of this phenomenon. We asked a sample of young Australian’s about the influence of pornography on their lives and analysed responses for themes of self-identified problematic consumption. Participants (n=1029) aged 15–29 years were recruited via Facebook to an online survey. Those who had ever viewed pornography (n=856) were asked in an open-ended question: ‘How has pornography influenced your life?’. Data were thematically analysed for sentiment and theme. Sub-themes were d..