Effects of Pornography on Relationships Naomi Brower, USU Extension Professor Viewing sexually explicit content or “pornography” has become increasingly commonplace (Price et al., 2016). Research indicates that 46% of adult men and 16% of women intentionally view pornography in an average week (Regenerus, Gordon, & Price, 2016).
partner relationships and provide steps toward healing a relationship hurt by pornography.
Negative Impacts Pornography can have negative consequences for both the user and his or her intimate partner. Some of the common damaging effects of pornography for users can include addiction, isolation, increased aggression, distorted beliefs and perceptions about relationships and sexuality, negative feelings about themselves, and neglecting other areas of their lives (Fight the New Drug, 2023; Maltz & Maltz, 2006; Manning, 2006). These negative consequences often carry over into other aspects of their lives, especially family and couple relationships. Within couple intimate relationships, pornography can have negative impacts in the following ways (Bridges et al., 2003; Huntington et al., 2021; Lambert et al., 2012; Manning, 2006; Schneider, 2003; Willoughby et al., 2016; Willoughby & Leonhardt, 2020): • User faces difficulty becoming sexually aroused without pornography. • User loses interest and engages in fewer sexual experiences with partner.
Many individuals never anticipate or expect that viewing pornography will negatively influence their lives. Yet, usage often significantly impacts the user as well as his or her family, workplace, and community (Camilleri et al., 2021; Fight the New Drug, 2023; Park et al., 2018). The couple relationship, in particular, often feels the negative effects of pornography. While some research has found that pornography use as a couple can potentially have some positive outcomes, such as a willingness to try new sexual behaviors or increased sexual intimacy (Grov, Gillespie, Royce & Leve, 2011; Huntington et al., 2021; Willoughby & Leonhardt, 2020), the same research--and others--have found far more potential negative impacts (Huntington et al., 2021; Leonhardt et al., 2019; Willoughby et al., 2016; Willoughby & Leonhardt, 2020). This fact sheet will review some of the impacts of pornography on 1