Recent publication in “Sexual Addiction Compulsivity – The Journal of Treatment and Prevention,” found that approximately 50% of the male college students interviewed looked at internet porn.

Approximately 20% to 60% of those viewing the internet porn indicated that it was problematic for them.  In several analyses, viewing pornography had the strongest negative effects in the psych/spiritual domain and on actual behavioral outcomes (e.g. relationships were damaged, problem at work or school).  Of course if looking at pornography is contrary to an individual’s values or morals, then this behavior would also be experienced as problematic.

What was interesting with this study was that the negative effects of viewing porn were partially dependent on how much the participants attempted to control their sexual thoughts and urges during and after viewing.  So for those who look at porn, then have increases in sexual urges and then try to exert more control over those urges, their porn viewing becomes more and more problematic.  It’s a cycle – the more they fight it, the more they want it, the more they do it and start back all over again.

Although these results are interesting, studies about human sexuality are ongoing.