What Are the Effects of Porn Addiction?

Porn (short for pornography) is any content that depicts nudity, sexual activity, or other adult content.

In the modern world, video content is perhaps the most common way of accessing explicit material – but it can also take the form of images and even audio recordings.

What is Porn Addiction?

It is likely that when you think of addiction, you think of the frequent and reliant use of drugs and alcohol.

However, there are many different kinds of addiction that do not fall into the category of substance abuse.

Porn addiction is considered by researchers as a kind of behavioural addiction.

With substance addiction, individuals can get addicted to the use of a specific drug.

Research has shown that mind-altering substance is not needed to cause an addiction. There are cases when addictions can occur without the use of a substance.

This can happen when an individual becomes addicted to a set of experiences, such as viewing porn. [1]

How Common is it?

Just as drinking once or twice a week does not make someone an alcoholic, simply viewing pornography on occasion does not mean you are addicted to porn.

The risk of addiction begins when the behaviour is repeated on a regular basis and becomes associated with feelings of pleasure and reward.

Statistics Relating to Porn Addiction

Watching pornography is not uncommon.

One study found that there are at least 4.5 million sites dedicated to pornography online.

But that does not mean that it is not a topic that raises heated debate.

One study asked a group of people how often they watched porn.

The following statistics show the percentage of people who reported watching porn at least once a week:

For men, this was:

63% of 18-30-year-olds
38% of 31-48-year-olds
25% of 50-68-year-olds

For women, this was:

21% of 18-30-year-olds
5% of 31-49-year-olds
30% of 50-68-year-olds [2]

Social Opinions on Porn

Whilst research found that over 40% of Americans in 2018 believe pornography is ‘morally acceptable, (a 7% increase from the year before) there are lots of communities and organisations that argue that pornography can be dangerous (both on individual and societal levels) and campaign for appropriate legislation to be put in place. [3]

What Are the Signs of Porn Addiction?

When watching porn turns from a habit into a compulsion, this is when addiction begins to manifest.

Pornography addiction can sometimes be confused with sex and love or sexual addiction.

Whilst these two addictions are related (and can be experienced at the same time) they are two separate things with their own sets of effects on an individual. [4]

Some signs of porn addiction include:

You may watch porn for excessive time periods
You may watch porn on impulse, as a compulsion
You cannot stop thinking about porn, even when it is irrelevant or inappropriate to the moment
Your desire to engage in sexual activity may be lower than usual
You find your attraction to your sexual or romantic partner(s) may be lower than usual
You may be pressing your partner to meet specific intimate demands
You may have discomfort or pain in your wrist, back or neck
You may be using large amounts of money to watch porn
You may be experiencing unexplained or unwarranted bursts of anger
You may find you are getting distracted more easily

What Causes Addiction to Porn?

Addiction is complicated.

There are many different types of addiction. There are no two people who will experience addiction in the same way, and no two same reasons why people may choose to begin accessing porn in the first instance.

However, there has been some research that can help us understand why a behaviour might become addictive.

One of the explanations for behavioural addictions is that watching can induce pleasant sensations of arousal.

When individuals continue to watch, those pleasant feelings can be reinforced, which allows people to feel that watching porn is a positive, rewarding experience.

This is connected to biochemistry and brain activity.

When we find something pleasurable, chemicals in the brain are released. The substance associated with pleasure is known as dopamine.

It is thought that addiction can occur when individuals experience less dopamine release over time. This means that more of the stimulus (in this case, porn) is needed to produce the same amount of dopamine as before.

This means that more porn is needed to feel good. [5]

What Effects Does It Have?

Although engaging with porn may cause positive feelings and immediate sexual satisfaction, like all addicts, porn addiction has its negative effects.

Porn addiction can have a wide-ranging impact on many different aspects of our day-to-day. The way that it can change our daily experience is not limited to just our sex lives.

Porn addiction can drastically impact your life and challenge your personal, social, romantic and sometimes even professional commitments.

Personal Effects of Porn Addiction

Primarily, addiction affects the individual who is struggling with addiction behaviours themselves. Addiction is classed as a chronic disorder, which means that it is something that can make an impact on all aspects of our lives.

An addiction to porn can have devastating repercussions and cause heavy challenges to physical and mental health.

Physical Effects: Sexual Dysfunction

Clinical research has suggested that there is an association between the frequent viewing of pornographic material and erectile dysfunction.

The rates of erectile dysfunction in men under the age of 40 have increased steadily in the last decade. [6]

Porn addiction can also be related to a decrease in libido and overall intimate satisfaction. This means that engagement with real-life sexual behaviour is significantly impacted.

This can cause decreased sexual satisfaction and potentially cause tension in intimate relationships.

Physical Effects: Experiencing Physical Pain

Porn addiction has been associated with repetitive strain injuries and pain in the wrist, neck, and shoulders from physically engaging with porn.

There are also risks of more general pain and damage to the musculoskeletal system from spending prolonged periods of time viewing online pornography.

This can specifically affect the neck, back and shoulders and cause difficulty with long-term pain and problems with posture.

The increased screen time is also associated with an increase in headaches, strained eyes and difficulty sleeping. [7]

Psychological Effects: Increased Dependence on Technology

Due to ease of access, online pornography is now the most popular way to access adult material.

There is a definite link between the rise of the internet and the increase in pornographic access, and therefore porn addiction.

Reviews have shown that over a quarter (27%) of all videos on the internet are pornographic in content.

This means that the relationship between technology and pornography is a complicated one, and individuals may find themselves relying on technology (smartphones, laptops, tablets) to access adult material, but also may find that their feelings of pleasure also get connected to the use of technology itself. [8]

Psychological Effects: Negative Body Image

The nature of pornography is that it exists as a business.

This means that just like any other business, pornography is selling something. In this case – it is selling sex.

But to do this, pornography has to play on – and often, distort- ideas of desire.

This means that the individuals featured in pornography are not representative of usual men and women. Often, adult content is heavily edited to display what can be dangerously unrealistic bodies in sexual performance.

By being constantly exposed to these often-unattainable beauty standards that become so connected with perceived ideas of desire, it is not uncommon for individuals who watch porn to feel that they do not meet a set of ‘criteria’ to be attractive to others.

This can lead to issues with self-esteem and even spiral into experiences with disordered eating and self-harm. [9]

Psychological Effects: Increased Rates of Depression

One study into the effects of porn addiction found that frequent engagement with pornographic content was related to an increased tendency towards depression.

The study found a correlation between the increased viewing of explicit content and levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.

This can often work to amplify the reasons why individuals may choose to view pornography in the first instance. In some cases, watching porn can be a response to feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction.

Whilst this link between pornography and mental health disorders is complex, these associations do suggest that adult content can be linked with the emotional and psychological well-being of viewers. [10]

Relationship Effects of Porn Addiction

Whilst addiction is difficult for the individual themselves, it can also be difficult for their loved ones to process.

There is strong evidence to suggest that an increased engagement with pornographic content can cause complications within romantic relationships, both in terms of sexual satisfaction and emotional health.

Sets Unrealistic Expectations for Sex

The activities shown in online porn often go beyond sexual intercourse and often have violent undertones.

There is a risk that incorporating some activities that you have seen in porn into your own sex life may cause discomfort.

Research has shown that 38% of women under 40 have experienced some kind of violence in the bedroom that they did not agree to. For a romantic relationship to be successful and equal, sexual activity needs to be consensual.

In extreme cases, this can even lead to sexual abuse. Your intimate relations with your partner should feel like a safe space.

If your partner feels unsafe or anxious about saying no, they may feel pressured to engage in an activity they are not comfortable with. This can cause issues with trust, respect and feelings of safety in a relationship. [11]

Impacting Your Partner’s Self Esteem

It is not uncommon for individuals who frequently access pornography to have heightened expectations of both themselves and others.

You may find that your belief in what constitutes an attractive body or exciting sexual behaviour continues to increase. This can lead to feeling unsatisfied with your partner.

They may then begin to believe that you are no longer attracted to them, and therefore that they are not good enough. This can be very damaging to their confidence and self-esteem, and they themselves may begin to develop anxiety, low mood and paranoia.

Relationship Dissatisfaction

Whilst sexual contact is not the only important aspect of a relationship, it is often at the core of romantic connections.

Porn addiction can lead to a lack of intimacy and sexual excitement and an increase in dissatisfaction.

It can also lead to feelings of inferiority and unattractiveness, and in some cases, resentment.

This lack of connection can ultimately be a deal breaker in some relationships.

There has been a lot of research into the link between increased engagement with porn and higher divorce rates. [12]

Increased Rates of Infidelity

When relationships feel unstable or unsatisfying, there is an increased risk of infidelity – or unfaithfulness.

Both the physical and psychological challenges associated with porn addiction in adults can lead to relationship issues, and either party looking for satisfaction or emotional connection through sexual activity elsewhere.

Treatment for Porn Addiction

Addiction, in any form, can take a serious toll on your life, and the lives of those around you.

If you feel that you are feeling the effects of porn addiction, there are professionals who can help you.

Addiction can happen to anyone, and there is no need to feel shame about your situation.

By accessing support, you can begin to take back control of your daily life by beginning to get your addictive behaviours into moderation.

Some examples of the kind of support you can access for porn addiction treatment include:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Holistic Therapy/ Alternative Therapy (Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Equine Therapy, etc).
Individual Therapy (1-1 Therapy)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Psychotherapy
Mindfulness
Support groups
Regular contact with a GP, therapist, or another appropriate clinician

Sometimes, an addiction can develop as a kind of coping mechanism for another mental health issue or mental health condition.

By speaking with a clinician to explore your thoughts and feelings, you can identify your difficulties and work to ease levels of stress, anxiety, low mood, and loneliness.

By working to be kind to yourself and increase your general well-being, with the right support, your likelihood of overcoming your addiction increases dramatically.

Access Support Today

If you are concerned about your engagement with pornographic content, Rehab Recovery can give you non-judgemental advice and support for yourself, a family member or a friend.

You can call us on 0800 088 66 86, or you can request a call back to speak to a member of the team.

If you would prefer not to speak over the phone for any reason, the Rehab Recovery chat lines are open 24/7 to provide you with support and to answer any questions you may have about accessing support for an addiction to porn.