Curvilinear associations between pornography use and relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and relationship stability in the United States

Abstract

While scholars have increasingly explored associations between pornography use and relationship quality, this research has been limited by various methodological and conceptual problems. One specific limitation noted by previous scholars is the assumption that such associations are always linear. Using a national sample of 3750 individuals in committed relationships from the United States and detailed measurement of both pornography use and relationship quality, curvilinear associations between pornography use and relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and relationship stability were explored. Curvilinear associations were found between pornography use alone and relationship satisfaction and stability, as well as between pornography use with one's partner and sexual satisfaction and relationship stability. Most of these effects were small in magnitude. In the case of associations with sexual satisfaction and relationship stability, these relationships became more negative at higher levels of pornography use. The one exception was the association between pornography use alone and relationship satisfaction which became weakly positive at higher levels of pornography use. Biological sex moderated relationships between pornography use and relationship stability in that most associations were significant only for males. Results provided strong evidence for curvilinear associations between pornography use and relationship quality indicators.