Differences in cross-sectional and daily diary problematic pornography use correlates

Most problematic pornography use (PPU) research relies on cross-sectional designs. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies are needed to better understand PPU correlates. We evaluated how daily PPU and pornography use ratings were correlated with baseline PPU, pornography use frequency (over 12-months), alcohol problems, and depression in a community sample of men living in the United States.

Participants (n = 113, mean age 37.95 [11.09]) completed a baseline survey battery followed by daily EMAs over 14 days (k = 1,240 observations). Data were gathered on the Prolific panel.

Screener thresholds suggested 32%, 25%, and 24% of sample were at-risk for PPU, depression, and alcohol use problems respectively. Baseline estimates suggested PPU to be weakly correlated with depression (r = 0.29) and past 12-month pornography use (r = 0.27), but not alcohol problems (r = 0.08). Multilevel modeling indicated aggregated pornography use amount as a robust correlate of aggregated pornography control problems over the observation period. Baseline PPU and pornography use indicators were significant predictors of aggregated control problems and pornography use amount respectively. Baseline depression and alcohol problem predictors were non-significant. Past 12-month pornography use frequency and depression scores exacerbated the relationships between daily pornography use amount and aggregated control problems. Sensitivity analyses specific to only those who used pornography across all observations were consistent with full model results (though effect strength changed).

With exception to the PPU and pornography use indicators, cross-sectional baseline estimates (e.g., alcohol problems and depression) were generally not predictive of aggregated pornography use and control problems in the following 14 days.