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Does Viewing Explain Doing? Assessing the Association Between Sexually Explicit
Materials Use and Sexual Behaviors in a Large Sample of Dutch Adolescents and Young
Adults
Gert Martin Hald PhD1,*, Lisette Kuyper PhD2, Philippe C.G. Adam PhD3,4 andJohn B.F.
de Wit PhD3,5
Article first published online: 26 APR 2013
DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12157
© 2013 International Society for Sexual Medicine
Issue The Journal of Sexual Medicine
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Volume 10, Issue 12, pages 2986?2995, December 2013
Abstract
Introduction
Concerns have been voiced that the use of sexually explicit materials (SEMs) may
adversely affect sexual behaviors, particularly in young people. Previous studies have
generally found significant associations between SEM consumption and the sexual
behaviors investigated. However, most of these studies have focused on sexual
behaviors related to sexually transmitted infections or sexual aggression and/or
failed to adequately control for relevant covariates. Thus, research more thoroughly
investigating the association between SEM consumption and a broader range of sexual
behaviors is needed.
Aims
The study aims to investigate SEM consumption patterns of young people, and to
assess the strength of the association between SEM consumption and a range of sexual
behaviors, controlling for a comprehensive array of variables previously shown to
affect these relationships.
Methods
Online cross-sectional survey study of 4,600 young people, 15?25 years of age, in The
Netherlands was performed.
Main Outcomes Measures
The main outcome measures were self-reported SEM consumption and sexual
practices.
Results
The study found that 88% of men and 45% of women had consumed SEM in the past
12 months. Using hierarchical multiple regression analyses to control for other factors,
the association between SEM consumption and a variety of sexual behaviors was found
to be significant, accounting for between 0.3% and 4% of the total explained variance
in investigated sexual behaviors.
Conclusions
This study suggests that, when controlling for important other factors, SEM
consumption influences sexual behaviors. The small to moderate associations that
emerged between SEM consumption and sexual behavior after controlling for other
variables suggest that SEM is just one factor among many that may influence youth
sexual behaviors. These findings contribute novel information to the ongoing debates
on the role of SEM consumption in sexual behaviors and risk, and provide appropriate
guidance to policy makers and program developers concerned with sexual education
and sexual health promotion for young people. Hald GM, Kuyper L, Adam PCG, and
de Wit JBF. Does viewing explain doing? Assessing the association between sexually
explicit materials use and sexual behaviors in a large sample of Dutch adolescents and
young adults. J Sex Med 2013;10:2986?2995.
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