Roles of Religiosity, Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms, Scrupulosity, and Shame in Self-Perceived Pornography Addiction: A Preregistered Study

• Published in: Archives of sexual behavior Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 695 - 709
• Main Authors: De Jong, David C., Cook, Casey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Addictions; Addictive behaviors; Adult; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Cognition & reasoning; Erotica - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morals; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - psychology; Original Paper; Perceptions; Pornography & obscenity; Psychology; Public Health; Religion; Religion and Psychology; Self Concept; Self Report; Sexual Behavior; Shame; Social Sciences; Young Adult; Obsessive–compulsive disorder; Scrupulosity; Pornography addiction; Religiosity
• ISSN: 0004-0002; 1573-2800
• DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01878-6

This study examined the roles of religiosity, shame, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, and scrupulosity in perceived pornography addiction. We theorized that religiosity causes pornography users to feel shame regarding their use, and in turn, self-identify as addicted to pornography, especially for individuals high on one of several proposed moderators. Participants were 645–646 pornography users who believe in a theistic God. Confirmatory analyses indicated that religious primes did not have indirect or moderated indirect effects on perceived addiction. However, exploratory analyses revealed that religious primes were associated with higher shame, and in turn, perceived addiction among individuals high on both organizational religiosity and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder compulsivity subscales. Additionally, self-reported religiosity had indirect effects on perceived addiction via shame, especially among individuals high on scrupulosity or moral disapproval of pornography.