Associations between young people’s internet pornography use and psychosexual well-being: a systematic review

Abstract

The internet has greatly increased the ease of access to pornography and the privacy of its use, accompanied by a notable rise in consumption among young people. This review aimed to systematically review and narratively synthesise quantitative evidence on the prevalence, motivations, and content types of internet pornography use – as well as its associations with multiple domains of psychosexual well-being, including attitudes and emotions towards use, sexual self-concept, sexual desire and functioning, and compulsive use – among individuals aged 16–25 years. Following a pre-registered protocol, we originally conducted a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science on 20 May 2024 and updated on 24 April 2025 for studies published from 1 January 2000 to 24 April 2025 that reported associations. Study quality was assessed. Twenty-seven studies (30,023 participants) were included in the systematic review. Measurement details were reported for the pornography use variables and the psychosexual well-being variables. The results indicate that most young people have used internet pornography, with a higher prevalence reported in men than women. Additionally, gender differences related to internet pornography were found in reported motivation and content types, attitudes and emotions, sexual self-concept, sexual desire and functioning, and compulsive use.