Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Problematic Pornography Use: The Mediating Role of Loneliness

Jorge Cardoso; Catarina Ramos; José Brito; Telma C Almeida

doi:10.1080/19317611.2023.2224807

Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Problematic Pornography Use: The Mediating Role of Loneliness

Int J Sex Health. 2023 Jun 19;35(3):481-493. doi: 10.1080/19317611.2023.2224807. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jorge Cardoso^{1

2}, Catarina Ramos^{1

2}, José Brito¹, Telma C Almeida^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM); Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Almada, Portugal.
² LabPSI - Laboratório de Psicologia Egas Moniz, Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Caparica, Almada, Portugal.

PMID: 38601731
PMCID: PMC10903672 (available on 2024-06-19)
DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2023.2224807

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the association between difficulties in emotion regulation and problematic pornography use (PPU) and test the mediating effect of loneliness.

Methods: All 339 participants (M = 28.53 years, SD = 10.32) completed online self-report scales assessing difficulties in emotion regulation, PPU, and loneliness.

Results: Difficulties in emotion regulation are positively correlated with PPU. Loneliness partially mediates the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and PPU. Gender and intimate relationship status had moderating effects on the tested mediation model.

Conclusions: Greater difficulties in emotion regulation have a significant indirect effect on PPU through loneliness.

Keywords: Difficulties in emotion regulation; compulsive sexual behavior; loneliness; problematic pornography use.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the FCT–Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under the project UIDB/04585/2020.