Li Ling, Feng Ran, Yang Lu, Lang Rui, Ince Campbell, Liu Chang, Ren Lei, Feng Zhengzhi, Li Kuiliang
College of General Education, Chongqing Water Resources and Electric Engineering College, Chongqing, China.
School of Educational Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China.
BMC Psychol. 2025 May 26;13(1):562. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02901-y.
Internet pornography use is prevalent among college students, yet the impact of internet pornography consumption on mental health remains contentious, with debates on whether it is positive or negative. This study aims to explore the complex relationship between internet pornography consumption and mental health from the perspective of motives for internet pornography use.
Using a convenience sampling method, this study surveyed 2,938 college students, collecting data on their demographics, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, social interaction anxiety, and motives for internet pornography use. Descriptive statistics and network analysis methods were employed to investigate the relationship between motives for internet pornography use and mental health among college students.
The results revealed that among college students with motives for internet pornography use, the prevalence rates of depression and anxiety were 55.31% and 36.25%, respectively. Motives for internet pornography use were positively correlated with depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and social interaction anxiety. Network analysis indicated that internet pornography behaviors based on enhancement and coping motives might be associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, whereas behaviors based on social motives might be related to decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety.
This study partially explains the varying impacts of internet pornography consumption on mental health. The findings highlight the importance for policymakers to understand better the potential impact of different motives for internet pornography use on the mental health of college students when regulating internet pornography materials.
大学生中使用网络色情内容的现象很普遍，然而，网络色情内容消费对心理健康的影响仍存在争议，关于其是积极还是消极的争论不断。本研究旨在从网络色情内容使用动机的角度探讨网络色情内容消费与心理健康之间的复杂关系。
本研究采用便利抽样法，对2938名大学生进行了调查，收集了他们的人口统计学信息、抑郁、焦虑、睡眠质量、社交互动焦虑以及网络色情内容使用动机的数据。采用描述性统计和网络分析方法来研究大学生网络色情内容使用动机与心理健康之间的关系。
结果显示，在有网络色情内容使用动机的大学生中，抑郁和焦虑的患病率分别为55.31%和36.25%。网络色情内容使用动机与抑郁、焦虑、睡眠质量和社交互动焦虑呈正相关。网络分析表明，基于增强和应对动机的网络色情行为可能与抑郁和焦虑症状增加有关，而基于社交动机的行为可能与抑郁和焦虑症状减少有关。
本研究部分解释了网络色情内容消费对心理健康的不同影响。研究结果凸显了政策制定者在规范网络色情材料时，更好地理解网络色情内容使用的不同动机对大学生心理健康潜在影响的重要性。
