Loneliness, Pornography Use, Problematic Pornography Use, and Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Purpose of review: Loneliness is a subjective experience characterized by distressing feelings resulting from a discrepancy between desired/expected and actual levels of social interactions. This narrative review explores the literature on relationships between loneliness, pornography use (PU), problematic pornography use (PPU), and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), including bidirectional natures of these relationships. Recent findings: Relationships between PU/PPU and loneliness have been explored from different perspectives. Studies have found a positive association between PU/PPU and loneliness, with loneliness increasing as severity of PPU rises. PU/PPU have also been identified as potential predictors of loneliness, with individuals engaging in PU/PPU more likely to experience loneliness. Loneliness may also predict PU/PPU, with individuals experiencing higher levels of loneliness being more prone to use pornography as a maladaptive coping strategy (although this relationship is not clear in longitudinal studies). Regarding CSBD, individuals with versus without CSBD have been found to exhibit higher levels of loneliness, although these findings have not been consistently replicated. Summary: This review provides insights into complex relationships between loneliness, PU/PPU, and CSBD, highlighting a need for further research to understand underlying mechanisms and develop effective interventions.