Pornography use, sexual behaviours, and emotional intelligence in italian adolescents

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Michele Capurso, Stefano Federici, Riccardo Palomba, Eleonora D’Urzo
Publishing Year 2020 Issue 2020/2
Language English Pages 26 P. 71-96 File size 319 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2020-002004
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

Sexually explicit material (SEM) is easily accessed by adolescents. This cross-sectional study examined the characteristics of 413 Italian adolescents (aged 17-22, 55% female) who use SEM. We examined the associations of SEM use with relationship status, religiosity, and emotional intelligence. All of the respondents reported accessing SEM while underage, with males using SEM more than females and accessing SEM at an earlier age; earlier exposure to SEM was also found to influence later SEM use. The reasons for watching pornography also differed be-tween the genders. There was a partial connection between the EQ-I:YV, SEM use, and recent sexual activity. The gender differences in terms of the prevalence and reasons for the use of SEM may be connected to a more general gender cultural stereotype.

Keywords: Pornography use; emotional intelligence; teenagers; adolescents; sexually explicit material.

  1. Albright J.M. (2008). Sex in America Online: An Exploration of Sex, Marital Status, and Sexual Identity in Internet Sex Seeking and Its Impacts. The Journal of Sex Research, 45(2): 175-186. DOI: 10.1080/0022449080198748
  2. Alexandraki K., Stavropoulos V., Anderson E., Latifi M.Q. and Gomez R. (2018). Adolescent Pornography Use: A Systematic Literature Review of Research Trends 2000-2017. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 14(1): 47-58. DOI: 10.2174/221155600766618060607361
  3. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
  4. Arrington-Sanders R., Harper G.W., Morgan A., Ogunbajo A., Trent M. and Fortenberry J.D. (2015). The Role of Sexually Explicit Material in the Sexual Development of Same-Sex-Attracted Black Adolescent Males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(3): 597-608.
  5. Bar-On R. (2006). The Bar-On model of emotional-social intelligence (ESI) 1. Psicothema, 18 (supplement): 13-25.
  6. Bar-On R. (1997). The Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i): technical manual. Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
  7. Bar-On R., Parker D.A. (2000). Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version, Technical Manual. Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
  8. Bar-On R., Parker J.D.A., Cianchetti C. and Fancello G.S. (2012). EQ-i:YV Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version. Firenze, Italy: Giunti O.S.
  9. Bem S.L. (1993). The lenses of gender: transforming the debate on sexual inequality. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press.
  10. Blos P. (1962). On adolescence, a psychoanalytic interpretation. New York: Free Press of Glencoe.
  11. Bowling A. (2005). Mode of questionnaire administration can have serious effects on data quality. Journal of Public Health, 27(3): 281-291.
  12. Brackett M.A., Mayer J.D. and Warner R.M. (2004). Emotional intelligence and its relation to everyday behaviour. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(6): 1387-1402. DOI: 10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00236-
  13. Braun-Courville D.K. and Rojas M. (2009). Exposure to Sexually Explicit Web Sites and Adolescent Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(2): 156-162.
  14. Chen A.-S., Leung M., Chen C.-H. and Yang S.C. (2013). Exposure to Internet Pornography Among Taiwanese Adolescents. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 41(1): 157-164.
  15. Cherniss C. (2010). Emotional Intelligence: Toward Clarification of a Concept. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 3(2): 110-126.
  16. Chong A.M., Lee P.G., Roslan S. and Baba M. (2015). Emotional Intelligence and At-Risk Students. SAGE Open, 5(1): 1-8. DOI: 10.1177/215824401456476
  17. Cooper A., Morahan-Martin J., Mathy R.M. and Maheu, M. (2002). Toward an Increased Understanding of User Demographics in Online Sexual Activities. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 28(2): 105-129. DOI: 10.1080/0092623025285186
  18. Curtis A.C. (2015). Defining adolescence. Journal of Adolescent and Family Health, 7(2): 2.
  19. D’Orlando F. (2011). The Demand for Pornography. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12(1): 51-75.
  20. Dombrowski S.C., Gischlar K.L. and Durst T. (2007). Safeguarding young people from cyber pornography and cyber sexual predation: a major dilemma of the internet. Child Abuse Review, 16(3): 153-170.
  21. Dorn L.D. and Biro F.M. (2011). Puberty and Its Measurement: A Decade in Review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(1): 180-195.
  22. Driemeyer W., Janssen E., Wiltfang, J. and Elmerstig E. (2017). Masturbation Experiences of Swedish Senior High School Students: Gender Differences and Similarities. The Journal of Sex Research, 54(4-5): 631-641. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2016.116781
  23. Efrati Y. and Amichai-Hamburger Y. (2019). The Use of Online Pornography as Compensation for Loneliness and Lack of Social Ties Among Israeli Adolescents. Psychological Reports, 122(5): 1865-1882. DOI: 10.1177/003329411879758
  24. Federici S., Artegiani F., Pigliautile M., Antonelli P., Diotallevi D., Ritacco I. and Maschke R. (2019). Enhancing Psychological Sexual Health of People With Spinal Cord Injury and Their Partners in an Italian Unipolar Spinal Unit: A Pilot Data Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(754): 1-12.
  25. Ford D.H. and Lerner R.M. (1992). Developmental systems theory: An integrative approach. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications, Inc.
  26. Fortenberry J.D., Temkit M.H., Tu W., Graham C.A., Katz B.P. and Orr D.P. (2005). Daily Mood, Partner Support, Sexual Interest, and Sexual Activity Among Adolescent Women. Health Psychology, 24(3): 252-257. DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.24.3.25
  27. Giannini A.M. and Cordellieri P. (2014). I divieti trasgrediti dai nostri figli. Roma, IT: Moige & Dipartimento di Psicologia dell’Università “Sapienza” di Roma.
  28. Goleman D. (1995). EI: Why it can matter more than IQ. London: Bloomsbury.
  29. Häggström-Nordin E., Hanson U. and Tydén T. (2005). Associations between pornography consumption and sexual practices among adolescents in Sweden. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 16(2): 102-107. DOI: 10.1258/095646205305751
  30. Hald G.M., Kuyper L., Adam P.C.G. and de Wit J.B.F. (2013). Does Viewing Explain Doing? Assessing the Association Between Sexually Explicit Materials Use and Sexual Behaviors in a Large Sample of Dutch Adolescents and Young Adults. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(12): 2986-2995.
  31. Hald G.M. and Malamuth N.M. (2008). Self-Perceived Effects of Pornography Consumption. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 37(4): 614-625.
  32. Harkness E.L., Mullan B. and Blaszczynski A. (2015). Association Between Pornography Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adult Consumers: A Systematic Review. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(2): 59-71.
  33. Harrison K. (2018). Pornographies. Chester, UK: University of Chester Press.
  34. IPSOS (2016). I cattolici tra presenza nel sociale e nuove domande alla politica. -- Retrieved from https://www.acli.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Cattolici-e-politica-analisi-Ipsos-novembre-2017.pdf
  35. Joyal C.C., Cossette A. and Lapierre V. (2015). What Exactly Is an Unusual Sexual Fantasy? The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12(2): 328-340.
  36. Keefer K.V., Parker J.D. and Saklofske D.H. (2018). Emotional Intelligence in Education: Integrating Research with Practice. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
  37. Keilty P. (2018). Desire by design: pornography as technology industry. Porn Studies, 5(3): 338-342. DOI: 10.1080/23268743.2018.148320
  38. Killermann S. (2013). The Social Justice Advocate’s Handbook: A Guide to Gender. Austin, TX: Impetus Books.
  39. Kraus S. and Rosenberg H. (2014). The Pornography Craving Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(3): 451-462.
  40. Kraus S.W. and Russell B. (2008). Early Sexual Experiences: The Role of Internet Access and Sexually Explicit Material. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 11(2): 162-168.
  41. Lando-King E., McRee A.L., Gower A.L., Shlafer R.J., McMorris B.J., Pettingell S. and Sieving R.E. (2015). Relationships Between Social-Emotional Intelligence and Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescent Girls. The Journal of Sex Research, 52(7): 835-840. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.97678
  42. Leung L. (2014). Predicting Internet risks: a longitudinal panel study of gratifications-sought, Internet addiction symptoms, and social media use among children and adolescents. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 2(1): 424-439. DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2014.90231
  43. Löfgren-Mårtenson L. and Månsson S.-A. (2010). Lust, Love and Life: A Qualitative Study of Swedish Adolescents’ Perceptions and Experiences with Pornography. The Journal of Sex Research, 47(6): 568-579. DOI: 10.1080/0022449090315137
  44. Longman-Mills S. and Carpenter K. (2013). Interpersonal competence and sex risk behaviours among Jamaican adolescents. West Indian Medical Journal, 62(5): 423-426.
  45. Love T., Laier C., Brand M., Hatch L. and Hajela R. (2015). Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update. Behavioral Sciences, 5(3): 388-433.
  46. Luder M.-T., Pittet I., Berchtold A., Akré C., Michaud P.-A. and Surís J.-C. (2011). Associations Between Online Pornography and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents: Myth or Reality? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40(5): 1027-1035.
  47. Maas M.K., Bray B.C. and Noll J.G. (2018). A Latent Class Analysis of Online Sexual Experiences and Offline Sexual Behaviors Among Female Adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 28(3): 731-747.
  48. Malouff J.M., Schutte N.S. and Thorsteinsson E.B. (2014). Trait Emotional Intelligence and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction: A Meta-Analysis. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 42(1): 53-66. DOI: 10.1080/01926187.2012.74854
  49. Manning W.D., Longmore M.A., Copp J. and Giordano P.C. (2014). The Complexities of Adolescent Dating and Sexual Relationships: Fluidity, Meaning(s), and Implications for Young Adults’ Well-Being. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, (144): 53-69.
  50. Matsumoto D. (ed.) (2009). The Cambridge Dictionary of Psychology. New York, USA: Cambridge University Press.
  51. McKee A. (2007). The positive and negative effects of pornography as attributed by consumers. Australian Journal of Communication, 34(1): 87.
  52. Morelli M., Bianchi D., Baiocco R., Pezzuti L., Chirumbolo A.J.S.R. and Policy S. (2017). Sexting behaviors and cyber pornography addiction among adolescents: The moderating role of alcohol consumption. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 14(2): 113-121.
  53. Moriarty N., Stough C., Tidmarsh P., Eger D. and Dennison S. (2001). Deficits in emotional intelligence underlying adolescent sex offending. Journal of Adolescence, 24(6): 743-751.
  54. Naghavi F. and Redzuan M. (2011). The relationship between gender and emotional intelligence. World Applied Sciences Journal, 15(4): 555-561.
  55. Nathan E. and Topolski A. (2016). Is there a Judeo-Christian Tradition?: A European Perspective: Berlin: De Gruyter.
  56. National Center on Sexual Exploitation N. (2016). Pornography & Public Health: Research Summary. Retrieved from Washington, -- DC: http://endsexualexploitation.org/wp-content/uploads/NCOSE_PornographyPH_RESEARCH-SUMMARY_9-8-16.pdf
  57. Owens E.W., Behun R.J., Manning J.C. and Reid R.C. (2012). The Impact of Internet Pornography on Adolescents: A Review of the Research. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 19(1-2): 99-122. DOI: 10.1080/10720162.2012.66043
  58. Paul B. and Shim J.W. (2008). Gender, Sexual Affect, and Motivations for Internet Pornography Use. International Journal of Sexual Health, 20(3): 187-199. DOI: 10.1080/1931761080224015
  59. Paulhus D.L. (1991). Measurement and control of response bias. In Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes (pp. 17-59). San Diego, CA, US: Academic Press.
  60. Peter J. and Valkenburg P.M. (2016). Adolescents and Pornography: A Review of 20 Years of Research. The Journal of Sex Research, 53(4-5): 509-531. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2016.114344
  61. Petersen J.L. and Hyde J.S. (2010). A meta-analytic review of research on gender differences in sexuality, 1993-2007. Psychological Bulletin, 136(1): 21-38.
  62. Petrides K.V. and Furnham A. (2000a). Gender Differences in Measured and Self-Estimated Trait Emotional Intelligence. Sex Roles, 42(5): 449-461. DOI: 10.1023/A:100700652313
  63. Petrides K.V. and Furnham A. (2000b). On the dimensional structure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 29(2): 313-320. DOI: 10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00195-
  64. Pornhub (2018). 2018 Year in Review. Porn Hub Insights. -- Retrieved from https://www. pornhub.com/insights/2018-year-in-review
  65. Price J., Patterson R., Regnerus M. and Walley J. (2016). How Much More XXX is Generation X Consuming? Evidence of Changing Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Pornography Since 1973. The Journal of Sex Research, 53(1): 12-20. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.100377
  66. Ranke-Heinemann U. (1990). Eunuchen für das Himmelreich: Katholische Kirche und Sexualität. Hamburg, DE: Hoffmann und Campe.
  67. Rothman E.F., Kaczmarsky C., Burke N., Jansen E. and Baughman A. (2015). “Without Porn … I Wouldn’t Know Half the Things I Know Now”: A Qualitative Study of Pornography Use Among a Sample of Urban, Low-Income, Black and Hispanic Youth. Journal of Sex Research, 52(7): 736-746. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2014.96090
  68. Rullo M., Lisi F. and Di Santo D. (2015). Lo stato dell’arte sull’intelligenza emotiva. Rassegna di Psicologia, 32(3): 9-38.
  69. Sabina C., Wolak J. and Finkelhor D. (2008). The nature and dynamics of internet pornography exposure for youth. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 11(6): 691-693.
  70. Salovey P. and Grewal D. (2005). The Science of Emotional Intelligence. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14(6): 281-285.
  71. Salovey P. and Mayer J.D. (1990). Emotional Intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3): 185-211. DOI: 10.2190/DUGG-P24E-52WK-6CD
  72. Saraiva J., Esgalhado G., Pereira H., Monteiro S., Afonso R.M. and Loureiro M. (2018). The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Internet Addiction Among Youth and Adults. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 29(1): 13-22.
  73. Sinković M., Štulhofer A. and Božić J. (2013). Revisiting the Association between Pornography Use and Risky Sexual Behaviors: The Role of Early Exposure to Pornography and Sexual Sensation Seeking. The Journal of Sex Research, 50(7): 633-641. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2012.68140
  74. Stark R. and Klucken T. (2017). Neuroscientific Approaches to (Online) Pornography Addiction. In C. Montag and M. Reuter (eds.), Internet Addiction: Neuroscientific Approaches and Therapeutical Implications Including Smartphone Addiction (pp. 109-124). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  75. Svedin C.G., Åkerman I. and Priebe G. (2011). Frequent users of pornography. A population based epidemiological study of Swedish male adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 34(4): 779-788.
  76. Thomson R. (1993). Religion, ethnicity and sex education: exploring the issues. London: National Children’s Bureau.
  77. To S.M., Ngai S.S.Y. and Iu Kan S.M. (2012). Direct and mediating effects of accessing sexually explicit online materials on Hong Kong adolescents' attitude, knowledge, and behavior relating to sex. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(11): 2156-2163.
  78. Tsaliki L. (2011). Playing with porn: Greek children’s explorations in pornography. Sex Education, 11(3): 293-302. DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2011.59008
  79. Ugoji F.N. (2014). Determinants of risky sexual behaviours among secondary school students in Delta State Nigeria. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 19(3): 408-418. DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2012.75104
  80. Vaillancourt-Morel M.-P. and Bergeron S. (2019). Self-Perceived Problematic Pornography Use: Beyond Individual Differences and Religiosity. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(2): 437-441.
  81. Varker T. and Devilly G.J. (2007). Types of empathy and adolescent sexual offenders. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 13(2): 139-149. DOI: 10.1080/1355260070166157
  82. Weinberg M.S., Williams C.J., Kleiner S. and Irizarry Y. (2010). Pornography, Normalization, and Empowerment. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(6): 1389-1401.
  83. Wéry A. and Billieux J. (2016). Online sexual activities: An exploratory study of problematic and non-problematic usage patterns in a sample of men. Computers in Human Behavior, 56: 257-266.
  84. Wikipedia contributors. (2019). Religion in Italy. In -- Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org//index.php?title=Religion_in_Italy&oldid =926130060
  85. Willoughby B.J., Young-Petersen B. and Leonhardt N.D. (2018). Exploring Trajectories of Pornography Use Through Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood. The Journal of Sex Research, 55(3): 297-309. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.136897
  86. Winn P. (ed.) (2003). Dictionary of Biological Psychology. New York: Taylor & Francis.
  87. Wosick, K. R. (2015). Pornography. In J. DeLamater and R. Plante (eds.), Handbook of the Sociology of Sexualities (pp. 413-433). Berlin: Springer.
  88. Young-Petersen B. and Willoughby B.J. (2017). The Influence of Pornography on Romantic Relationships of Emerging Adults. In M.F. Wright (ed.), Identity, Sexuality, and Relationships among Emerging Adults in the Digital Age (pp. 178-202). Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global.
  89. Zillmann D. (2000). Influence of unrestrained access to erotica on adolescents’ and young adults’ dispositions toward sexuality. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27(2): 41-44. DOI: 10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00137-

  • The (Un)Equal Effect of Binary Socialisation on Adolescents’ Exposure to Pornography: Girls’ Empowerment and Boys’ Sexism from a New Representative National Survey Loredana Cerbara, Giulia Ciancimino, Gianni Corsetti, Antonio Tintori, in Societies /2023 pp.146
    DOI: 10.3390/soc13060146
  • Parental Competence and Pornography Use among Hispanic Adolescents María Calatrava, Paola Alexandria Pinto de Magalhaes, Marta Vidaurreta, Sonia Rivas, Cristina López-Del Burgo, Maider Belintxon, in Behavioral Sciences /2024 pp.926
    DOI: 10.3390/bs14100926

Michele Capurso, Stefano Federici, Riccardo Palomba, Eleonora D’Urzo, Pornography use, sexual behaviours, and emotional intelligence in italian adolescents in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 2/2020, pp 71-96, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2020-002004