From habit to compulsion: the mediating role of sexual compulsivity between pornography consumption and problematic use

Although pornography consumption is sometimes considered part of common sexual behaviour, but in some individuals, its frequent or uncontrollable consumption can have negative psychological consequences. The present study aimed to examine whether sexual compulsivity mediates the relationship between pornography consumption and experiences of problematic use. 500 Iranian adults were surveyed online using a snowball method. Participants completed questionnaires including: The Consumption of pornography scale - general (COPS - G), the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS), and the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS). Data were analysed using correlation tests, linear regression, mediation analysis (Baron & Kenny), and ANOVA. Results showed that pornography consumption was positively related to both sexual compulsivity (r =.455, p <.001) and problematic consumption (r =.504, p <.001). Sexual compulsivity also played a mediating role between consumption and problematic experiences. Significant differences were observed between different groups in terms of relationship status; single participants had higher scores on sexual consumption and coercion. The findings emphasize that the psychological experience of use (i.e., feelings of compulsion and uncontrollability) is a stronger predictor of problematic use than the actual amount of use. The role of sexual compulsivity as a key mechanism in this process becomes even more important, especially in contexts such as Iran, where pornography consumption is considered taboo. These results emphasize the need to pay attention to cultural differences in analysing pornography consumption and designing therapeutic interventions.