Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Corinne Bridges

Abstract

Over the past 25 years, significant research has gone into understanding how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) correlate with a variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes, while at the same time, pornography consumption has increased dramatically. However, limited research has been done to understand whether a relationship exists between ACEs and pornography consumption. Attachment theory, which was used as the theoretical framework for this study, includes the idea that childhood experiences play a major role in a person’s development of various behaviors throughout life, including coping mechanisms like pornography consumption. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study was to identify the potential relationship between ACEs, the age of exposure to pornography, and pornography consumption by adult males. Data from 127 participants were analyzed through multiple linear regression. The ACE Questionnaire and a modified Section 3 of the Pornography Consumption Questionnaire were used to establish how many ACEs an adult male incurred in childhood as well as when and how they used pornography throughout life. Statistical significance was found in the relationship between ACEs, age of exposure to pornography, and pornography consumption. The results of this study contribute to filling a gap in research and facilitate a better understanding of what makes people vulnerable to unwanted or problematic pornography consumption. The use of this data could positively impact social change within the counseling field by providing empirical data for those who seek to help with unwanted or problematic pornography consumption. Further research and approaches are recommended to better understand this relationship.

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