The Moderating Role of Religion in the Relationship Between Attitudes Toward Pornography and Mental Health Outcomes

Using the framework of Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT; Festinger, 1957), the current study examined whether religiosity buffered or enhanced the effects of attitudes toward pornography and the psychological outcomes of depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction among a sample of adult men. Participant responses were obtained from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk website. Previous studies have rarely accounted for attitudes toward pornography or social desirability, which is surprising given that pornography has, and continues to remain highly stigmatized (Romito & Beltramini, 2011; Zillmann & Bryant, 1986). Consequently, social desirability was assessed as a covariate and attitudes toward pornography were a primary variable of interest in relation to pornography consumption, religiosity, and mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction). Methodology utilized primarily included analyses for correlations, regression, and moderation (e.g., PROCESS). Main findings indicated that religiosity did not moderate the relationship between negative pornography attitudes (NPA) and depression or anxiety, but did significantly moderate the relationship between negative attitudes toward pornography and life satisfaction. In other words, at lower levels of religiosity the negative relationship between NPA and life satisfaction was enhanced. This moderation means that for those with low religiosity, life satisfaction dramatically declined as attitudes against pornography increased. Conversely, at higher values of religiosity, the direction of the relationship reversed and was no longer significant. Implications of results are discussed and are intended to help educators, therapists, and other helping professionals effectively work with individuals who may be struggling with the effects of pornography use.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Parker, James Nile

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Langrehr, Kimberly J.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/84172

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/84172