While other people can provide support and encouragement, only the individual can ultimately decide if he or she has a desire to change and is willing to do so (Landau, Garrett & Webb, 2008).
One or both partners may be concerned about children’s exposure to pornographic materials.Both user and partner experience lower relationship satisfaction and stability, less positive communication, and more psychological aggression between partners.Relationship trust decreases due to dishonesty and deception about pornography use.
Both user and partner experience decreased relationship sexual satisfaction and emotional closeness.Partner may feel that certain sexual activities desired by user are objectionable.Partner feels sexually inadequate and threatened by pornography use.Pornography consumption may be correlated with increased behaviors of hooking up and infidelity.User loses interest and engages in fewer sexual experiences with partner.User faces difficulty becoming sexually aroused without pornography.Within couple intimate relationships, pornography can have negative impacts in the following ways (Bridges et al., 2003 Huntington et al., 2021 Lambert et al., 2012 Manning, 2006 Schneider, 2003 Willoughby et al. These negative consequences often carry over into other aspects of their lives, especially family and couple relationships. Some of the common damaging effects of pornography for users can include addiction, isolation, increased aggression, distorted beliefs and perceptions about relationships and sexuality, negative feelings about themselves, and neglecting other areas of their lives (Fight the New Drug, 2023 Maltz & Maltz, 2006 Manning, 2006). Pornography can have negative consequences for both the user and his or her intimate partner. This fact sheet will review some of the impacts of pornography on partner relationships and provide steps toward healing a relationship hurt by pornography.
While some research has found that pornography use as a couple can potentially have some positive outcomes, such as a willingness to try new sexual behaviors or increased sexual intimacy (Grov, Gillespie, Royce & Leve, 2011 Huntington et al., 2021 Willoughby & Leonhardt, 2020), the same research-and others-have found far more potential negative impacts (Huntington et al., 2021 Leonhardt et al., 2019 Willoughby et al., 2016 Willoughby & Leonhardt, 2020). The couple relationship, in particular, often feels the negative effects of pornography. Yet, usage often significantly impacts the user as well as his or her family, workplace, and community (Camilleri et al., 2021 Fight the New Drug, 2023 Park et al., 2018). Many individuals never anticipate or expect that viewing pornography will negatively influence their lives. Research indicates that 46% of adult men and 16% of women intentionally view pornography in an average week (Regenerus, Gordon, & Price, 2016). Viewing sexually explicit content or “pornography” has become increasingly commonplace (Price et al., 2016).