Abstract
Introduction: Pornographic materials are perceived as harmful in society. However, some recent research also points to positive aspects of pornography consumption, which can be a healthy and recreational activity under certain conditions.
Due to the growing popularity of pornography, the research topic needs to be further developed. Method: Using an online questionnaire, we compared individuals from relationships in which pornography is consumed together, by each of the partners separately, by only one of the partners, or not at all.
Respondents were compared in the areas of partner sexual activity, including the frequency of sexual activity, the need for sexual activities, sexual satisfaction, sexual communication, and the repertoire and frequency of partner sexual practices. Results: The comparison included 685 respondents over the age of 18 who were in a heterosexual relationship at the time.
Partners who consume pornography scored higher in all of these areas than the other groups, with the exception of the areas of frequency of sexual activity and sexual satisfaction, where they scored the same as partners who do not consume pornography. No statistically significant difference was found between men and women.
Conclusion: The study points to the possible positive context of pornography consumption when consumed by partners together. In some cases, partners who do not consume pornography achieved the same results.
However, individuals from relationships where pornography is watched by partners separately, or by only one of them, always achieved the lowest scores in all areas. We can therefore assume that in this case the context of pornography consumption is rather negative.