According to a new study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior, the use of explicit pornographic media, such as videos and pictures, is linked to lower sexual and relationship satisfaction.
Pornography use is common, though controversial, in the context of romantic relationships. Some argue it can lead to problems like reduced intimacy and interpersonal conflicts, while others suggest it can improve sexual communication and strengthen bonds. In this work, Marie-Chloé Nolin and colleagues examined the effects of pornography on relationship satisfaction in cohabiting couples.
Theoretical frameworks like sexual script theory and the acquisition, activation, application (3AM) theory suggest that pornography consumption may shape sexual expectations and behaviors. Sexual scripts—socially constructed messages about how to act during sexual activities—may be acquired through pornography. The 3AM theory extends this idea by suggesting these scripts are activated in relevant situations and applied during sexual interactions, possibly influencing relationship satisfaction.
Given the mixed findings in previous research, the researchers tested these theories by examining the differential impacts of various pornographic media on sexual and relationship satisfaction.
A convenience sample of 706 adult couples (1368 participants) was recruited via online advertisements and email lists between January 2021 and August 2022. Participants were at least 18 years old and cohabiting for at least six months. The final sample included both mixed-gender and same-gender couples.
Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing their frequency of use for various pornographic media over the past three months. The researchers differentiated between media depicting nudity and those depicting sexual activities. Measures included the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction, which assesses for positive and negative aspects of one’s sexual relationship, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, which measures relationship satisfaction. Participants also reported their stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and relationship duration.
This data was collected as part of the Zephyr and Calypso projects, which were designed to assess couples’ sexual and relational well-being during the pandemic.
The researchers found that the most commonly used pornographic medium was videos, followed by pictures, written material, and audio material. Cisgender men were more likely to use videos and pictures, while cisgender women reported higher use of written material. Gender-diverse individuals also showed a high frequency of written material use. Specifically, 87% of cisgender men used videos compared to 57% of cisgender women, while 44% of gender-diverse individuals used written material.
Video use was associated with lower sexual and relationship satisfaction for both the individual and their partner. Picture use predicted lower relationship satisfaction and partners’ lower sexual satisfaction. Written material use was linked to lower sexual satisfaction for the user, while audio material had varied effects based on gender; cisgender women’s audio use was associated with higher sexual satisfaction, whereas cisgender men’s audio use predicted their partner’s lower sexual satisfaction.
Videos and pictures, which are more visually explicit, were more consistently associated with negative outcomes, supporting the idea that explicit sexual scripts acquired from these media might lead to unrealistic expectations and dissatisfaction. In contrast, the use of written and audio materials revealed more complex associations, suggesting that the less explicit nature of these media might leave more room for personal fantasies and be less likely to create dissatisfaction based on unrealistic standards.
A limitation outlined by the authors is the cross-sectional nature of the study, which prevents causal inferences.
Overall, these findings suggest that the context and medium of pornography play significant roles in intimate cohabiting relationships.
The study, “Associations Between Pornography Use Through Different Media and Sexual and Relationship Satisfaction Among Cohabiting Couples”, was authored by Marie‐Chloé Nolin, Beáta Bőthe, Elsa Villeneuve, and Marie‐Pier Vaillancourt‐Morel.