Frequency and Duration of Use, Craving and Negative Emotions in Problematic Online Sexual Activities

Abstract

Abstract Questions remain regarding how best to define problematic online sexual activities (OSAs) and about paths that may lead to problematic use of OSAs and their consequences. Although frequency and duration of use and motivational drive, as expressed through craving, to view pornography have been implicated in problematic OSAs, their inter-relationships warrant direct examination. We propose and test a model by which pornography craving may promote more frequent engagement in OSAs and more time spent engaging in OSAs, and this may lead to problematic OSAs and subsequent negative consequences like negative emotions. Data from 1070 college students suggested that 20.63% of students were at risk of problematic OSAs use, and this group had greater frequency of OSAs, more usage time, higher pornography craving and more negative academic emotions. Our proposed path model was partially supported. Pornography craving was associated with problematic OSAs use more, so through frequency than quantity of OSAs, and OSAs were related to negative academic emotions. Future studies of problematic OSAs use should consider the complexity of relationships between craving, use of OSAs and negative health measures in college students and other groups.