Associations between young people’s internet pornography use and psychosexual well-being: a systematic review

Abstract

The internet has greatly increased the ease of access to pornography and the privacy of its use, accompanied by a notable rise in consumption among young people. This review aimed to systematically review and narratively synthesise quantitative evidence on the prevalence, motivations, and content types of internet pornography use, as well as its associations with multiple domains of psychosexual well-being, including attitudes and emotions towards use, sexual self-concept, sexual desire and functioning, and compulsive use, among individuals aged 16–25 years. Following a pre-registered protocol, we originally conducted a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science on 20th May 2024 and updated on 24th April 2025 for studies published from 1st January 2000 to 24th April 2025 that reported associations. Study quality was assessed. Twenty-seven studies (30,023 participants) were included in the systematic review. Measurement details were reported for the pornography use variables and the psychosexual well-being variables. The results indicate that most young people have used internet pornography, with men reporting a higher prevalence than women. Additionally, gender differences related to internet pornography were found in reported motivation and content types, attitudes and emotions, sexual self-concept, sexual desire and functioning, and compulsive use.

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ORCID for Roger Ingham: orcid.org/0000-0001-7964-413X

ORCID for Heather Armstrong: orcid.org/0000-0002-1071-8644

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