The Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Thought Control Strategies on Pornography Use

Objective: Due to easy accessibility to pornography for adolescents and youth, research on the use of pornography has proliferated in recent years. The aim of this study was to examine the role of difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies on pornography use. Methods: The population of this research included all students of the Sistan and Baluchestan University in southeastern Iran. A total of ۳۹۵ students (۱۹۳ men and ۲۰۲ women), with a mean age of ۲۲.۳۵ years, were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The participants completed the standardized measures of frequency of pornography use, difficulties in emotion regulation, and thought control strategies. Data were analyzed in SPSS (v. ۲۲) software by using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression. Results: The results showed that ۷۴% of men used pornography in the past ۱۲ months; however, only ۳۵% of women used pornography in the past ۱۲ months. The results also revealed that pornography use was correlated with difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies. Multiple regressions revealed that, in men, difficulties in emotion regulation (β=۰.۲۷; P<۰.۰۰۱) can positively predict pornography use and distraction (β=-۰.۲۸; P<۰.۰۰۱) can negatively predict pornography use. In addition, the results demonstrated that, in women, difficulties in emotion regulation (β=۰.۳۰; P<۰.۰۰۱) can positively predict pornography use and social control (β=-۰.۱۸; P<۰.۰۰۱) can negatively predict pornography use. Conclusion: These findings indicated that difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies (distraction and social control strategies) may successfully address the frequency of pornography use.