Pornography and Interpersonal Satisfaction

Researchers from Indiana University and University of Hawaii conducted a meta-analysis of 50 studies including more than 50,000 participants from 10 countries. Their results were published in Human Communication Research. Pornography consumption is negatively associated with interpersonal satisfaction.

Interpersonal satisfaction comprises relational satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. Relational satisfaction is the extent to which an individual is satisfied with his romantic relationship; and sexual satisfaction is the extent to which an individual is satisfied with this sex life. As compared to individuals who do not consume pornography, individuals who consume pornography are less satisfied with their romantic relationships and sex lives.

The negative association between pornography consumption and interpersonal satisfaction is most likely due to a causal relationship between pornography consumption and interpersonal satisfaction. This is because this association has remained consistent across experimental and observational (i.e., cross-sectional and longitudinal) studies.