The pornography industry has marketed itself to couples by claiming that viewing porn together can put the spark back in their relationships. Unfortunately, the spark porn adds to relationships is more like dynamite than a heartwarming bonfire.
Research over the past few decades has indicated that pornography is bad for relationships. In one study from the 1980s, participants shown a clip of pornography reported less satisfaction with their partner’s looks, affection, sexual performance, and sexual curiosity (read the study here). Another study published in 2010 found that individuals rated themselves as less in love with their partner after viewing pornography.
However, a new study featured in Time magazine puts all these pieces together and solidifies the findings: couples who view pornography are more split up.
The study used longitudinal data from the General Social Survey to follow over 2000 participants who changed their porn consumption over time. Those who started viewing pornography were significantly more likely to divorce by the next time the researchers checked in with them. In spite of the researchers’ initial beliefs, the effect was greater for women than for men. If a woman began viewing porn, her marriage was three times more likely to crumble. If a man began using pornography, his marriage was only twice as likely to end.
“Till Porn Do Us Part? Longitudinal Effects of Pornography Use on Divorce,” was presented at the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA) on August 22. It has not yet been published.
Clean Router commends researchers and academics who study pornography’s effects on individuals, families and society and seek to educate the public on this issue!