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Problematic Internet Pornography Use and Psychological Distress among Emerging Adults in Malaysia: Gender as a Moderator

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  • Soon-Aun Tan

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar 31900, Malaysia
    School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Malaysia)

  • Yee Shan Goh

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar 31900, Malaysia)

  • Norzarina Mohd Zaharim

    (School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Malaysia)

  • Su Wan Gan

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar 31900, Malaysia)

  • Chin Choo Yap

    (Department of Psychology, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, No 5, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway 47500, Malaysia)

  • Sarvarubini Nainee

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar 31900, Malaysia)

  • Ling Khai Lee

    (Department of Languages and Linguistics, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar 31900, Malaysia)

Abstract

Internet pornography use (IPU) refers to Internet-based sexually explicit materials that are ultimately used to elicit sexual feelings or thoughts. The accessibility of Internet pornography could lead to excessive exposure to pornographic messages, posing a risk to heavy users’ psychological health. This paper offers a preliminary understanding of the relationship between Internet pornography use and psychological distress among emerging adults and the moderating role of gender in the association. This cross-sectional study has taken a purposive sampling approach to recruit 144 emerging adult pornography users via the online survey method. The results indicated that males reported having more problematic Internet pornography use, and there were no gender differences in psychological distress. Meanwhile, gender is a significant moderator between Internet pornography use and psychological distress. The females were found to be more psychologically affected by their problematic Internet pornography use than the males. Overall, this study has provided a novel finding of the moderating role of gender in problematic Internet pornography use and psychological distress in the Malaysian context. This study also calls for a gender-focused sexual health programme for Malaysian emerging adults. Furthermore, the scores of problematic IPU in this study raise a concern over the effectiveness of current sex education in Malaysia. The scores may highlight the need to provide education targeting Internet pornography use.

Suggested Citation

  • Soon-Aun Tan & Yee Shan Goh & Norzarina Mohd Zaharim & Su Wan Gan & Chin Choo Yap & Sarvarubini Nainee & Ling Khai Lee, 2022. "Problematic Internet Pornography Use and Psychological Distress among Emerging Adults in Malaysia: Gender as a Moderator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3682-:d:775191
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aleksandra Diana Dwulit & Piotr Rzymski, 2019. "Prevalence, Patterns and Self-Perceived Effects of Pornography Consumption in Polish University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-16, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cecilia M. S. Ma, 2022. "Relationships between Social Networking Sites Use and Self-Esteem: The Moderating Role of Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-11, September.

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