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Context Matters: How Religion and Morality Shape Pornography Use Effects

  • Clinical Therapeutics (B McCarthy, RT Segraves and R Balon, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of the Review

Pornography use itself and research related to pornography use remain controversial topics, due in large part to the morally charged subject matter. Given the historical relationship between religion and sexual morality, an argument could be made for attributing some of the contemporary increases in empirical attention to pornography, and thus some of the most substantial advances in research regarding its effects, to public outcry or moral panic. Due to a general lack of consensus among pornography researchers and contrasting findings regarding the potential for pornography use to be problematic or addictive, the last 5 years of pornography research is marked by increased attention to the impact of context and individual differences when assessing pornography use effects. Particularly, researchers have provided compelling evidence that differences in religious and moral values regarding sexual behavior can impact estimates of pornography use and perceptions regarding the problematic or addictive nature of pornography. Considering recent findings, a systematic review of recent research (within the past 5 years) on how religion and morality shape pornography use effects was conducted, with a particular focus on findings regarding pornography problems due to moral incongruence.

Recent Findings

Fifty-one articles were included in the present review. Findings demonstrate religiousness, moral disapproval, and moral incongruence as robust, strong predictors of various problems regarding pornography (e.g., psychological distress, relational problems, perceived addiction).

Summary

Collectively, results underscore the impact of contextual factors, particularly differences in religious or moral beliefs regarding pornography use, on perceptions regarding the problematic or addictive nature of pornography and demonstrate moral incongruence as strong predictor of perceived pornography problems.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

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  1. Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43443, USA

    Christopher G. Floyd & Joshua B. Grubbs

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Correspondence to Joshua B. Grubbs.

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Floyd, C.G., Grubbs, J.B. Context Matters: How Religion and Morality Shape Pornography Use Effects. Curr Sex Health Rep 14, 82–98 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-022-00329-8

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