Mental Health
Impulsivity and Emotional Dysregulation in Distress and Self-Perceived Pornography Addiction in Romanian Adults: Advancing the Dysregulation Pathway of “The Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence Model”.
Open Access: Yes.
Abstract
“The Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence (PPMI)” is a popular theoretical model addressing negative outcomes of pornography use, through two pathways: (1) the dysregulation pathway and (2) the moral incongruence pathway. The morality pathway has been studied extensively, though the dysregulation pathway has remained underdeveloped. The current study aimed to further investigate the dysregulation pathway from the PPMI model by examining impulsivity and emotional dysregulation. This research was conducted on a sample of 1620 Romanian participants (69.1% females), aged between 18 and 74 years (M = 26.87; SD = 9.15). They completed questionnaires designed to assess dimensions of impulsivity (e.g., “negative urgency,” “positive urgency,” “sensation seeking,” “lack of premeditation,” and “lack of perseverance”), emotional dysregulation, distress, and self-perceived addiction to pornography. Findings revealed that impulsivity and emotional dysregulation relate to distress and self-perceived addiction to pornography, and that these constructs can be integrated into the dysregulation pathway of the PPMI model. This work contributes to the development of the PPMI framework, as well as to a deeper comprehension of the negative outcomes of pornography consumption.
Relevance
The study showed “that lack of premeditation was significantly and positively associated with distress and self-perceived pornography addiction… individuals with high scores on lack of premeditation are more likely to act without considering the long-term consequences of their actions… which can lead to dysfunctional outcomes…particularly in moments when stress and emotions are extremely intense. Thus, it is plausible that they use pornography as a short-term coping mechanism to avoid negative states or to quickly obtain a sense of relief” but “in the long term, pornography may lead to negative consequences and impact the consumer’s life, ultimately resulting in psychological distress.” Additionally, “when distress occurs, individuals may come to realize that they have acted impulsively and developed a pattern of turning to pornography during impulsive moments, which could contribute to a self-perceived addiction.”
The study also found that the one dimension of impulsivity – the lack of perseverance – “is significantly linked with psychological distress related to pornography use… [which] can be explained by the fact that individuals with high scores on lack of perseverance seek rapid and immediate solutions for emotional discomfort….However, in the long term, this coping mechanism [pornography use] can exacerbate suffering.”
Sensation seeking was “significantly and positively predicted self-perceived pornography addiction.” These individuals “may perceive pornography use as a pleasurable activity and, in this sense, may not associate it with negative outcomes, such as psychological distress.” That “sensation seeking is linked to self-perceived addiction to pornography can be explained by the fact that individuals, even if they do not experience distress regarding their consumption, may later become aware that they have exceeded certain social or personal norms related to pornography use.”
Last, “our study revealed that emotional dysregulation has been positively associated with distress and self-perceived addiction to pornography. This finding is in line with the literature, which has shown that emotional dysregulation is linked to difficulties in processing emotions and problematic pornography use” which “serves as a dysfunctional means through which individuals with high emotional dysregulation may attempt to regulate their own negative feelings, thoughts, or sensations” which can lead to “a vicious cycle.”
“From a practical and clinical perspective, the results of the present study can provide a foundation for personalized interventions for psychotherapists and other mental health professionals who encounter distress related to pornography consumption in their practice. Our findings suggest that practitioners should move beyond explanations that focus exclusively on morality when working with individuals who report significant levels of distress or self-perceived addiction to pornography and should systematically assess impulsivity and emotional dysregulation. Identifying these mechanisms may strengthen an initial starting point for case formulation and guide the planning of therapeutic interventions, particularly by highlighting the need for interventions aimed at fostering optimal emotion regulation strategies, impulse control, and adaptive coping strategies in individuals.”
Citation
Huţul, T.-D., Huţul, A., Karner-Huţuleac, A. K., Holman, A. C., & Grubbs , J. B. (2026). Impulsivity and Emotional Dysregulation in Distress and Self-Perceived Pornography Addiction in Romanian Adults: Advancing the Dysregulation Pathway of “The Pornography Problems Due to Moral Incongruence Model”. Archives of Sexual Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-026-03493-3
