Factors Associated with the Use of Sexually Explicit Internet Materials among Adolescents

Abstract

The international literature indicates that the use of pornography in adolescence may be associated with different risks to sexual health. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with Sexually Explicit Internet Materials (SEIM) use among Brazilian adolescents. 516 adolescents participated in the study. The instruments were: Questionnaire of Sociodemographic Data, Sexual Behaviors, Sexual Satisfaction, Perceived Utility of SEIM, Sexual Performance Orientation and Conceptions of Women as Sexual Objects; and Gender-Equitable Men Scale. Data were collected online and descriptive, comparison between groups and correlation analyses were conducted. Higher levels of online pornography consumption were correlated with being a boy, not having received sex education at home or in the community, having already had sexual intercourse, greater sexual dissatisfaction, perceived utility of SEIM, sexual performance orientation and presenting conceptions of women as sexual objects. The results provide guidelines for developing psychoeducational strategies about pornography use in adolescence.