An Investigation into the Relationship Between Problematic Online Pornography Use and Loneliness Within Romantic Relationships

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 2, 1 - 23, 31.12.2025

Yunus Emre Öksüz , Gözde Masatcıoğlu

Öz

Problematic online pornography use refers to the excessive consumption of pornographic material in ways that impair an individual’s daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life. With the widespread use of the internet and easy access to devices such as smartphones and personal computers, this issue has become increasingly common. Previous studies have identified various contributing factors, including neurobiological and behavioral components. Some findings also suggest that loneliness may play a role in the development of this behavior. This study aims to investigate the relationship between loneliness within romantic relationships and problematic online pornography use. A quantitative research design employing a relational screening model was used. Data was collected using the Online Pornography Addiction Scale and the Loneliness in Close Relationships Scale, both Likert-type instruments. The sample consisted of 111 healthy adults aged 18–30, each involved in a romantic relationship for at least six months. Sample size was determined via G*Power based on previous studies. Statistical analyses included correlation, regression, and ANOVA. Results showed a significant positive relationship between loneliness in romantic relationships and problematic pornography use. Additionally, the subdimensions of the loneliness scale accounted for 40.7% of the variance in problematic pornography use..

Anahtar Kelimeler

Online Pornography Addiction , Loneliness in Romantic Relationships , Behavioral Addiction

Problemli Çevrimiçi Pornografi Kullanımı ile Romantik İlişkilerdeki Yalnızlık Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Öz

Abstract: Problemli çevrimiçi pornografi kullanımı, bireyin günlük işlevselliğini, kişilerarası ilişkilerini ve yaşam kalitesini olumsuz yönde etkileyen düzeyde pornografik materyal tüketimini ifade etmektedir. İnternetin yaygın kullanımı ve akıllı telefonlar ile kişisel bilgisayarlar gibi cihazlara kolay erişim, bu sorunun giderek daha yaygın hale gelmesine neden olmuştur. Önceki çalışmalar, bu davranışın gelişiminde nörobiyolojik ve davranışsal çeşitli etkenlerin rol oynadığını ortaya koymuştur. Bazı bulgular ise yalnızlığın bu davranışın gelişiminde etkili olabileceğini öne sürmektedir. Bu çalışma, romantik ilişkilerde yaşanan yalnızlık ile problemli çevrimiçi pornografi kullanımı arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Nicel araştırma desenine dayalı ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Veri toplama sürecinde, Likert tipi olan Çevrimiçi Pornografi Bağımlılığı Ölçeği ve Yakın İlişkilerde Yalnızlık Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Örneklem, romantik ilişki içerisinde olan 18–30 yaş aralığında 111 sağlıklı yetişkinden oluşmaktadır. Örneklem büyüklüğü, benzer çalışmalar temel alınarak G*Power programıyla hesaplanmıştır. İstatistiksel analizlerde korelasyon, regresyon ve ANOVA kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, romantik ilişkilerde yalnızlık ile problemli pornografi kullanımı arasında anlamlı ve pozitif bir ilişki olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca, yalnızlık ölçeğinin alt boyutları problemli kullanımı %40.7 oranında açıklamıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Çevrimiçi Pornografi Bağımlılığı , Romantik İlişkilerde Yalnızlık , Davranışsal Bağımlılık

Kaynakça

• Butler, M., Pereyra, S., Draper, T., Leonhardt, N., & Skinner, K. (2017). Pornography Use and Loneliness: A Bidirectional Recursive Model and Pilot Investigation. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44, 127 - 137. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2017.1321601.
• Cardoso, J., Ramos, C., Brito, J., & Almeida, T. (2022). Predictors of Pornography Use: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Loneliness. The journal of sexual medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.01.005.
• Chamberlain, S. R., Lochner, C., Stein, D. J., Goudriaan, A. E., van Holst, R. J., Zohar, J., & Grant, J. E. (2016). Behavioral addiction—A rising tide? European Neuropsychopharmacology, 26(5), 841–855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.08.013
• Cho, H., Kwon, M., Choi, J. H., Lee, S. K., Choi, J. S., Choi, S. W., & Kim, D. J. (2014). Development of the Internet addiction scale based on the Internet Gaming Disorder criteria suggested in DSM-5. Addictive Behaviors, 39(9), 1361–1366.
• Chrétien, S., Giroux, I., Smith, I., Jacques, C., Ferland, F., Sévigny, S., & Bouchard, S. (2025). Emotional Regulation in Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders Treatment: A Systematic Review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 41, 353 - 448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-024-10366-8.
• Daspe, M. È., Vaillancourt-Morel, M. P., Lussier, Y., & Ferron, A. (2018). When pornography use feels out of control: The moderation effect of relationship and sexual satisfaction. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44(4), 343–353.
• De Sousa, A., & Lodha, P. (2017). Neurobiology of pornography addiction – A clinical review. Telangana Journal of Psychiatry, 3(2), 66–70.
• Duffy, A., Dawson, D. L., & Das Nair, R. (2016). Pornography addiction in adults: A systematic review of definitions and reported impact. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 13(5), 760–777. Efrati, Y., & Amichai-Hamburger, Y. (2018). The Use of Online Pornography as Compensation for Loneliness and Lack of Social Ties Among Israeli Adolescents. Psychological Reports, 122, 1865 - 1882. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294118797580.
• Ekşi, H., & Kısrık, S. (2023). Adaptation of the Loneliness in Intimate Relationships Scale (LIRS) to Turkish. Research on Education and Psychology, 7(3), 545–557. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912970
• Ergün, N. (2023). Developing the Online Pornography Addiction Scale and examining its associations with psychosocial factors. Psicología Conductual, 31(2), 269–299.
• Ferrer-Pérez, C., Montagud-Romero, S., & Blanco-Gandía, M. C. (2024). Neurobiological theories of addiction: a comprehensive review. Psychoactives, 3(1), 35-47.
• Ford, K., & Burns, R. (2024). Associations Between Divorce Histories and Unhealthy Alcohol Use Among Middle Aged and Older Adults. Substance Use & Misuse, 59, 1999 - 2007. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2024.2392519.
• Fox, H., Karim, A., & Syed, S. (2020). Bio-Behavioral Indices of Emotion Regulation: Potential Targets for Treatment in Addiction. Current Addiction Reports, 7, 333 - 343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00330-y.
• Grant, J. E., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2016). Expanding the definition of addiction: DSM-5 vs. ICD-11. CNS Spectrums, 21(4), 300–303.
• Harper, C., & Hodgins, D. (2016). Examining correlates of problematic Internet pornography use among university students. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(2), 179–191.
• Heinz, A., Beck, A., Halil, M. G., Pilhatsch, M., Smolka, M. N., & Liu, S. (2018). Addiction as learned behavior patterns. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(8), 1086. Hilton, D. L., Jr. (2013). Pornography addiction – A supranormal stimulus considered in the context of neuroplasticity. Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology, 3, 20767.
• Hilton, D. L., Jr., & Watts, C. (2011). Pornography addiction: A neuroscience perspective. Surgical Neurology International, 2, 19.
• Kardefelt-Winther, D. (2014). A conceptual and methodological critique of Internet addiction research: Towards a model of compensatory Internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 351–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.10.005
• Karila, L., Wéry, A., Weinstein, A., Cottencin, O., Petit, A., Reynaud, M., & Billieux, J. (2014). Sexual addiction or hypersexual disorder: Different terms for the same problem? A review of the literature. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 20(25), 4012–4020.
• Kim, J., & Haridakis, P. M. (2009). The role of Internet user characteristics and motives in explaining three dimensions of Internet addiction. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14(4), 988–1015.
• Koob, G. F. (2008). A role for brain stress systems in addiction. Neuron, 59(1), 11–34.
• Koob, G. F., & Le Moal, M. (2008). Addiction and the brain antireward system. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 29–53. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.59.103006.093548
• Kühn, S., & Gallinat, J. (2014). Brain structure and functional connectivity associated with pornography consumption: The brain on porn. JAMA Psychiatry, 71(7), 827–834. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.93
• Laier, C., & Brand, M. (2014). Empirical evidence and theoretical considerations on factors contributing to cybersex addiction from a cognitive-behavioral view. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 21(4), 305–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720162.2014.970722
• Liang, L., Zhu, M., Dai, J., Li, M., & Zheng, Y. (2021). The Mediating Roles of Emotional Regulation on Negative Emotion and Internet Addiction Among Chinese Adolescents From a Development Perspective. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.608317.
• Love, T., Laier, C., Brand, M., Hatch, L., & Hajela, R. (2015). Neuroscience of Internet pornography addiction: A review and update. Behavioral Sciences, 5(3), 388–433.
• Maes, M., Vanhalst, J., Van den Noortgate, W., & Goossens, L. (2017). Intimate and relational loneliness in adolescence. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(7), 2059–2069.
• Malaeb, D., Hallit, S., & Obeid, S. (2023). Pornography Use among Lebanese Adults: Association with Loneliness and Fear of Commitment. Healthcare, 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060795.
• Mauer-Vakil, D., & Bahji, A. (2020). The addictive nature of compulsive sexual behaviors and problematic online pornography consumption: A review. Canadian Journal of Addiction, 11(3), 42–51.
• Mestre-Bach, G., & Potenza, M. (2023). Loneliness, Pornography Use, Problematic Pornography Use, and Compulsive Sexual Behavior. Current Addiction Reports, 10, 664-676.
• Pereyra, S. (2016). Pornography Use and Loneliness: Assessing Correlations Using Three Associative Models.
• Petry, N. M. (2015). Behavioral addictions: DSM-5® and beyond. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Pornhub. (2017). Pornhub insights: 2017 year in review. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.pornhub.com/insights/2017-year-in-review
• Reid, R. C., Carpenter, B. N., & Fong, T. W. (2011). Neuroscience research fails to support claims that excessive pornography consumption causes brain damage. Surgical Neurology International, 2, 64.
• Rokach, A., & Goldberg, J. O. (2021). From loneliness to belonging – The path we hope to take. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 761440.
• Sahithya, B. R., & Kashyap, R. S. (2022). Sexual addiction disorder—A review with recent updates. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 4(2), 95-101.
• Sandhu, D., & Kaur, G. (2017). Consumption of Cyber Pornography and Loneliness. IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences Review, 5, 103-106.
• Stewart, D. N., & Szymanski, D. M. (2012). Young adult women’s reports of their male romantic partner’s pornography use as a correlate of their self-esteem, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction. Sex Roles, 67(5–6), 257–271.
• Tacchino, C., Rogier, G., & Velotti, P. (2025). Decoding Hypersexuality: A Latent Profile Approach to Attachment, Self-Criticism, and Personality Disorders. Sexual Health & Compulsivity, 1-26
• Tremblay, L. K., Naranjo, C. A., Cardenas, L., Herrmann, N., & Busto, U. E. (2002). Probing brain reward system function in major depressive disorder: Altered response to dextroamphetamine. Archives of General Psychiatry, 59(5), 409–416.
• Voon, V., Mole, T. B., Banca, P., Porter, L., Morris, L., Mitchell, S., & Potenza, M. N. (2014). Neural correlates of sexual cue reactivity in individuals with and without compulsive sexual behaviors. PLoS ONE, 9(7), e102419.
• Wang, Y., Lu, Y., Tian, X., Liu, Y., & Ma, W. (2024). The relationship between mobile phone addiction and time management disposition among Chinese college students: A cross-lagged panel model. Heliyon, 10, e25060.
• Wéry, A., & Billieux, J. (2017). Problematic cybersex: Conceptualization, assessment, and treatment. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 238–246.
• Wise, R. A. (2009). Roles for nigrostriatal—not just mesocorticolimbic—dopamine in reward and addiction. Trends in Neurosciences, 32(10), 517–524. Yoder, V., Virden, T., & Amin, K. (2005). Internet Pornography and Loneliness: An Association?. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 12, 19 - 44. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720160590933653.