Pornography Use, Problematic Pornography Use, and Potential Impacts on Partners and Relationships

Abstract

Purpose of Review: The present review focuses on relationships between pornography use, problematic pornography use, and their possible effects on partners and relationships. Recent Findings: Pornography use has been examined in the setting of marriages and other partnered relationships. Aspects considered include pornography-use patterns, perceptions of a partner’s pornography use, relationship satisfaction and happiness, relationship quality, partner’s problematic pornography use, infidelity/extramarital sex, and relationship stability (breakup/divorce). Summary: Studying potential effects of pornography use in the context of dyadic relationships appears important with respect to understanding both marriage and divorce and the quality of couples’ relationships. More research is needed, particularly in the context of problematic pornography use.