Mental Health
Compulsive Sexual Behaviors, Pornography Consumption, and Co-Occurring Disorders Among College Students.
Open Access: Yes.
Abstract
Problematic pornography use (PPU) and other compulsive sexual behaviors (CSBs) are associated with numerous psychosocial consequences, with a higher frequency in men than women. However, less is known about the frequency and relationship between PPU, CSBs, depression, and alcohol use problems, especially among college students who may endorse these behaviors at higher rates. This study sought to identify the relationship between co-occurring CSBs, PPU, alcohol use problems, and depression across gender (77% women, 23% men) in a sample of college students (N = 1126). Participants completed an anonymous online survey. Categorical modeling (i.e., chi-square tests and binary logistic regressions) was utilized to identify base rates and odds ratios of clinically significant PPU and CSBs among individuals with alcohol use problems and depression. Men, relative to women, reported PPU and co-occurring alcohol use problems and depression at higher rates. Less significant gender differences were observed across co-occurring CSBs, alcohol use problems, and depression. Alcohol use problems were moderately to strongly associated with CSBs. Depression was associated with PPU in women. Co-occurring alcohol use problems and depression were moderately associated with CSBs. This study highlights the role of gender in potential comorbidities between PPU and CSBs in young adults, as well as the need for greater research examining the consequences of PPU, CSBs, and co-occurring disorders.
Relevance
“In comparison to women, men endorsed PPU [problematic pornography use] (45.49% vs. 6.66%), PPU and alcohol use problems (20.00% vs. 2.18%), PPU and depression (11.76% vs. 3.79%), and cooccurring PPU, alcohol use problems, and depression (7.45% vs. 1.61%) at consistently higher rates. Co-Occurrence of PPU [problematic pornography use], alcohol use problems, and depression is higher in young adult men than women.”
“In line with researchers who have suggested that PPU may manifest as a maladaptive coping strategy, this gender disparity could suggest that young adult college men may be more likely to turn to pornography to cope with the stressors of adjusting to life in college than women.”
The study also noted “that the percentage of men who endorsed PPU is significantly higher than previous research.”
“Additionally, the frequency of co-occurring depression, as well as co-occurring depression and alcohol use problems in individuals who endorsed PPU and CSB [compulsive sexual behavior] was consistently more frequent in women than men”. “These findings suggest that while PPU, CSBs, and co-occurring psychopathology may be more widespread in men than women likely due to higher rates of PPU and CSBs in men, co-occurring psychopathology may be more concentrated in women presenting with PPU and CSBs than men. This finding could suggest that PPU and CSBs are more distressing in women than men, potentially due to social stigma, decreased help-seeking attitudes for PPU and CSBs, or gender specific underlying transdiagnostic mechanisms.”
Citation
Moon, E. J., Garos, S., Kraus, S. W., & Borgogna, N. C. (2026). Compulsive Sexual Behaviors, Pornography Consumption, and Co-Occurring Disorders Among College Students. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-026-03462-w
