Pornography Use Habits of Sexually and Non-Sexually Delinquent Youth

Adolescents with problematic sexualized behaviors have been found to disclose more frequent and earlier exposures to pornography compared to non-sexually delinquent youth. There is a gap in the literature regarding specific pornography use habits that may differentiate youth who sexually and non-sexually offend, and little is known about how pornography use relates to delinquent behavior among youth who have sexually offended. The current study explored the pornography use habits, offending behaviors, and recidivism risk of 200 adjudicated youth in a Western state. Regression analyses revealed differences between groups in content selected, beliefs, and use habits. Youth who engaged in sexual offending had more unrealistic beliefs reflected in their pornography use. While only frequency of viewing was related to sexual recidivism risk, there was a relationship between viewing forceful or violent pornography and the diversified offending portfolios of youth who sexually offend. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.