(1) Background: The Differential Susceptibility to Media Effects Model (DSMM) suggests that pornography use effects are conditional and they depend on dispositional, developmental, and social differential susceptibility variables. This framework also highlights that the differential susceptibility variables act as predictors of pornography use and as moderators of the effect of pornography on criterion variables. (2) Methods: By administering a survey to n = 1500 adolescents, we tested whether these assumptions were met. (3) Results: Pornography use was related to being male and older, having a bisexual or undefined sexual orientation, higher substance use, being non-Muslim, and reporting sexual interest and the use of the media to obtain sexual information. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) showed that higher levels in the criterion variables were directly related to pornography use, older age, substance use, and being women. Some mediational links also emerged. Pornography use mediated between the age and criterion variables. Moreover, substance use mediated the association between age and gender with the criterion variables. (4) Conclusions: Our findings support the clinical applicability of the theoretical DSMM framework. Knowing adolescent pornography consumers’ profiles and the impact of pornography on this population would allow for the designing of more effective prevention and regulation proposals.

Pornography use is one of the factors that has been proposed to be associated with violence. We aimed to explore the literature of the last 20 years, with the objective of understanding the possible association between pornography use and violence. Two electronic databases (PsycINFO/PsycARTICLES and PubMed/Medline) were used. We included members of the general population, of any sex, age, and sexual orientation, who were direct users of pornography or have a partner who uses pornography. Only studies with pornography use and violence assessments, and that specifically evaluated the association between both factors, were included. In all, 59 studies met the inclusion criteria. An association between pornography use and nonsexual violence seems to exist, although the causality of this association remains unclear. Heterogeneity of results exists regarding the association between pornography use and intimate partner sexual assault and coercion: some studies have failed to demonstrate this association, while others have observed it partially or significantly. Contradictory results have also been observed when examining the association between pornography use, rape myths, and other beliefs/attitudes. The main limitation is the heterogeneity in the conceptualization of both constructs (pornography and violence). Multiple theoretical models, methodologies, and categorizations have been used in the studies, complicating the comparability of the findings. The association between different types of violence and pornography use requires further in-depth research to better understand the specific link between both constructs. CRD42021259874.

Pornography use is a common practice in adolescents and has been observed to be more prevalent in males. There are different consequences associated with pornography use and problematic use that may present differently among males and females. The interplay between these factors remains underexplored. Using network analysis (a novel model of growing interest), this study examined the interrelationships between variables linked to PPU (such as victimization, sexual double standards, loneliness, family relationships, and risky sexual behaviors) in a Spanish sample of N = 650 adolescents. The analysis focused on identifying central variables and differences between sexes. Males demonstrated higher levels of intentional pornography use and PPU, with sexual pleasure as a central node in their network. PPU in males was associated with more sexist models of sexuality. For females, online victimization and loneliness emerged as key factors, highlighting their vulnerability to digital harm. Both sexes shared a cluster of PPU-related factors, including conflict, mood modification, relapse, and withdrawal, which were more pronounced in males. These findings highlight the potential of network analysis in the study of PPU in adolescents and its possible effects, providing information for an in-depth understanding of the differences between the sexes. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of developing gender-sensitive prevention and intervention strategies to address the unique needs and vulnerabilities of males and females.