Prevalence of problematic pornography use: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Digital Media Studies

Background:

• Previous narrative reviews highlighted cross-cultural differences in problematic pornography use (PPU) prevalence.
• Statistical synthesis of global PPU prevalence rates was lacking, hindering a clear understanding of its public health impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis to statistically determine the pooled prevalence rate of problematic pornography use (PPU) in the general population.
• To identify factors contributing to heterogeneity in reported PPU prevalence rates across studies.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed on ProQuest, PsycArticles, and PubMed up to October 11, 2024.
• Data from 22 studies (N=31,566) were analyzed using Meta-Essentials with a random-effects model to calculate the pooled prevalence.
• Heterogeneity was assessed and explored using subgroup analyses based on study characteristics.

Main Results:

• The overall pooled prevalence rate for problematic pornography use (PPU) was 13.00% (95% CI: 8.00-19.00%).
• Significant heterogeneity was observed, with prevalence rates varying by study region, sample type (representative vs. convenience), and the specific PPU assessment instrument utilized.
• Publication bias was found to have a modest impact on the overall results.

Conclusions:

• Problematic pornography use (PPU) affects a significant portion of the population globally, with a pooled prevalence of 13%.
• Regional differences, sampling methodologies, and measurement tools are critical factors influencing reported PPU rates.
• Future research should investigate the 'forbidden fruit effect' and interaction effects among variables predicting PPU prevalence.