Attitudes toward pornography and gender differences among Spanish young adults

Pornography consumption is a widespread practice among young people that influences both attitudes and sexual behavior, and its analysis is essential to understanding the factors that shape gender dynamics and sexual socialization today. The present study aimed to examine attitudes toward pornography, frequency of consumption, and preferred content in a sample of Spanish youth aged 18 to 29 years. Two studies were conducted: the first (N = 285) assessed the psychometric properties of the Pornography Attitudes Scale confirming its validity and reliability. The second (N = 1,000) evaluated attitudes toward pornography (fun, arousal, curiosity, and social acceptance) and the intention to seek specific types of content (explicit, BDSM, violence, and fetishism). Analyses included descriptive techniques, confirmatory factor analysis, non-parametric testing, and cluster analysis. Results showed that men reported higher consumption and more favorable attitudes, whereas women displayed greater critical sensitivity. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct profiles (conventional consumers, transgressive consumers, and non-consumers/critics), highlighting the heterogeneity of youth consumption. Overall, findings confirm the validity of the EAP and underscore the existence of a subgroup with a marked interest in transgressive content, with clear implications for gender-related risks.