Ijeghari n'uzo di iche iche nke nwoke na nwanyi na-agwa ndi mmadu okwu banyere mmekorita onwe ha, ihe omuma na omume umu nwoke: ihe omumu nke oma (2018)

Charles, P. na Meyrick, J. (2018)

Journal of Psychology Psychology. ISSN 1359-1053

nkịtị

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Research suggests that exposure to Sexually Explicit Material (SEM) has negative effects on the beliefs, attitudes and actions of young men, but little research has examines how this may happen. The objective of this study was to address this emerging issue and explore the self-reported influence of exposure to SEM on young males in order to better understand implications for sexual health promotion.

Method

A ‘snowballed ‘sample of participants of males aged between 18 – 25 were recruited within one workplace. Of 40 invited, 11 responded to a qualitative survey.  The survey data was examined using Thematic Analysis.

Nsonaazụ na nkwubi okwu

The key themes emerging from the data were:- increased levels of availability of  SEM, including an escalation in extreme content (N'ebe obula i lee) which are seen by young men in this study as having negative effects on sexual attitudes and behaviours (Negative effects – Nke ahụ adịghị mma). Data suggests confused views (Ezi amaokwu Fantasy) around young men’s expectations of a healthy sex life (Ndụ Mmekọahụ Dị Mma). Family or sex education may offer some ‘protection’ (Buffers) to the problematic norms young people see in SEM

Okwu Mmalite

Sexual violence is a major public health problem (Towl, 2018) the latest population level based research from the USA shows that 81% of women and 43% report experience of sexual harassment (Kearl, 2018), which have major life-course consequences for victims and perpetrators.

A recent evidence scan around the effects of pornography on children and young people (Quadara, El-Murr and Latham, 2017) reports that “the most dominant, popular and accessible pornography contains messages and behaviours about sex, gender, power and pleasure that are deeply problematic”.

A comprehensive review of 20 years of research around the links between consumption of pornography and behaviour (Peter and Valkenburg, 2016) show effects on both genders, and in relation to sexual harassment, they found greater sexual aggression, in terms of perpetration and victimization

An Australian study (Davis, Carrotte, Hellard and Lim, 2018) of N= 517 young heterosexual people draws attention to the gendered ways that behaviours in pornography are seen and identified by young heterosexual audiences.

A systematic review (Wright et al, 2016) of the research linking consumption of pornography with actual acts of sexual aggression found good evidence across studies and that violent content may be an exacerbating factor.  Research needs to address the emerging issue of increased availability of pornography particularly through digital platforms (Davis, 2018). Research has already evidenced an impact on the development of adolescents and youth culture in a number of unprecedented ways and across cultural and global boundaries (Peter & Valkenburg, 2016).

Cross sectional studies have suggested that young people do learn sexual behaviours from the observation of SEM (Häggström‐Nordin et al, 2006; Alexy, Burgess & Prentky, 2009) and that this may result in a distorted expectations of sexuality (Tsitsika, Critselis, Kormas, Konstantoulaki, Constantopoulos & Kafetzis, 2009). Peter & Valkenburg, (2010) found more frequent SEM exposure resulted in increased beliefs that it was similar to real-world sex (social realism) and a useful source of information about sex (utility).

However, qualitative work teasing out the mechanisms behind these correlations is limited (Peter and Valkenburg, 2016.  Löfgren-Mårtenson & Mansson, (2010) noted that only some young people recognised the unrealistic nature of SEM.  Other qualitative research suggests that young people use pornography for ‘instructional purposes’ and having consumed pornography feel pressure to imitate it (Rothman et al 2015).   Vulnerability may intensify this relationship as illustrated by interview data from young BME MSM in the US (Arrington-Sanders et al 2015) who had less access to appropriate sex education.

The aim of this research was therefore to begin to explore the mediating factors that exposure to SEM has on the sexual beliefs, understanding and practices of young men through their own accounts.

ụzọ

A qualitative survey was used to explore use of SEM.  An anonymous online survey tool was chosen to ensure participant anonymity and reduce social desirability in responses.  The questionnaire did not use a core definition of SEM but asked participants to define what they had seen.  Questions where designed to be exploratory whilst still eliciting core information about sources of use, sex education and perception of what is a healthy sex life.

Using an a workplace (call centre) employing predominately young men, the sampling strategy aimed to recruit young men who could reflect on recent adolescent experience of SEM  but also report on how this affected sexual relationships in early adulthood (18-25 yrs) Acquaintance networks were recruited by snowballing contacts and sampling continued  to the point at which no novel information was emerging.  40 males, aged between eighteen and twenty-five years were invited to participate in this study, and 11 participants completed the survey (See Appendix A).

Participants completed either hard copy (returned via anonymous envelope) or online version (returned via email) of an anonymous, qualitative survey. Data analysis was carried out through a six-phase approach to inductive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), exploring the semantic value of the data through generating initial codes before searching for and identifying main themes, Appendix B provides an audit trail from data to theme through an extract of the coding table and a more detailed diagram of themes and sub themes (Appendix B). Rigour of interpretation was underpinned through development of personal reflective statement by the researcher and supervisor confirmation of themes (Meyrick, 2006)

Ịkwado ụkpụrụ Ụkpụrụ

The University of the West of England’s Health and Life Sciences ethics board provided ethical approval for this study all procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Results

Participants included 11 males between the ages of 18-25 years all working at the same workplace. They have been given pseudonyms for anonymity.

The inductive thematic analysis applied to these qualitative survey responses elicited six key themes that were present within the data. These themes are seen as essential in determining beliefs, understandings and actions of all participants. Themes have been labelled and are presented in a logical order “N'ebe obula i lee","Negative Effects – That’s Not Good","Buffers, sex education and family","Ezi amaokwu Fantasy"Na"Ndụ Mmekọahụ Dị Mma“. The themes are presented in this specific order to illustrate the overarching story running through the data and to inform potential mechanisms .  The diagram 1, plots the key themes (in blue) in relation to steps on a pathway and also shows the relevant sub themes.

1. Ebe ọ bụla ị na-ele anya

Akọwapụtara isiokwu a site n'ụkpụrụ nke ikpughe na SEM nke ndị sonyere na ya na-egosi na ọ dị mfe na nso nso a nke yiri ka a na-eji ịntanetị enweta ọdịnaya a dịka isi mmalite kachasị.

"Ahụla m ihe gba ọtọ siri ike nke m na-enweta site na ebe nrụọrụ weebụ efu na ịntanetị." - Sid

"Ibe nke 3, ụmụ anụmanụ (Zoo & Nuts)" - Tom

“Explicit music videos, TV girls where you call up” – Richard

            "Instagram" - Mo      

Participants seemed to demonstrate a measure of social acceptance for the viewing of SEM by adolescent males in the modern world, seeing the behaviour as part of a normal developmental process.

“I think that it is a part of growing up”. – Ross

However, some seemed to recognise potential detrimental results, influencing sexual experimentation in adolescent males.

“I worry about the affect it has had on young people, because of porn I have experimented sexually trying to copy things I’ve seen and not all have been positive experiences (sex parties, group sex etc.)”. – Gaz

“When I was not so careful, I found myself getting addicted to porn because of the ease in which I could get hold of it and the reward from chemicals in my brain”. – Alfie&

2. Negative Effects – That’s Not Good

Participants seemed to be able to recognise potential problems from SEM consumption.

“I would also say it reinforces dangerous ideas of gender hierarchy. Women are usually depicted as submissive and easily influenced by men. Men are usually depicted as the ones     in control and as the stronger gender. I believe this has affected susceptible individuals in our society, reinforcing the patriarchy within our society, making strong female attitudes less      desirable.” – Bob

“Sex as a product that can be easily accessed and purchased. Changes the way they view girls and women, objectification, girls not as people” – Mo

In this group, the gender stereotypes shown in SEM also seemed to change the way in which young males perceive themselves.

“It can make some men feel insecure about their sexual ability as they can’t necessarily last as long as some male pornstars”. – Richard

“Porn has made me feel less adequate as a man – has a negative effect on my own perception of myself.” – Tom

Tụkwasị na nke a, ndị na-akọrọ na-ekwu banyere ọnụọgụ na-arịwanye elu n'ime oke ọdịnaya n'ime SEM. Ya mere, enwere ike ịhụ SEM dị ka ikike dị ike n'ịkpụzi agụụ mmekọahụ kachasị njọ.

"N'ihi nnweta porn na-arịwanye elu, vidio ndị ahụ na-aghọwanye ihe dị egwu ma na-awụ akpata oyi iji nọgide na-achọ ka a ka weere ya ihe na-akpali akpali". - Jay

“Ọ ga-abụrịrị na o meela ka obi sie m ike. Ọ na-ewe ọtụtụ ihe iji mee ka m maa jijiji ugbu a, n'ihi ego m hụrụ, ọ naghị emetụta m dịka ọ dị na mbụ. ”- Tom

This increased need for a higher levels of stimulation may lead to expectations on individual to conform to what may be regarded as a ‘the norm’.

3. Buffers

Balancing or alternative behavioural  models provided by e.g. family behaviour or sex education were reported in terms of having a positive contribution or as a missed opportunity.

“Agụmakwụkwọ mmekọahụ m n'ụlọ akwụkwọ dị egwu. Ekpuchighị ihe na-akpali agụụ mmekọahụ ma ọlị, ọ dịkwa ka ha na-eme nke kacha nta…. Ha tụpụrụ nkọwa ọ bụla ga-enye gị nghọta bara uru banyere ihe inwe mmekọahụ ga-adị ka "- Jay

“Ụdị mmadụ abụghị ihe arụ n’ezinụlọ m mgbe m na-etolite, n’ihi ya, echere m na nke a nyere m uru nke na-abụghị ihe nile ga-enweta. N'ezie ọrụ nka nne m nyere m ezigbo echiche maka ụdị ezigbo ụmụ nwanyị dị. – Bob

Open family attitudes to sex may act as a ‘’buffer’ against the negative potential problematic results of SEM viewing and sex education a missed opportunity to provide a balancing source of healthy ‘norms’.  The mechanism of such a ‘buffers’ could be in helping young people distinguish between real and fantasy sexual behaviour.

4. Ezi amaokwu Fantasy

Participants reported viewing the use of pornography as now being much less stigmatised, and as a normal part of life, discussed openly within relationships.

            “Ugbu a adịla mma. Obere ihe mgbochi. Enwere ike iji ya na ndị mmekọ kwurịta ya. " – Tom

SEM was seen as a ‘trustworthy’ educational source of information, but participants reported a variable influence of SEM on ‘norms’.

            "Amụtara m ọtụtụ ihe site na porn - mmegharị - ihe a na-atụ anya n'aka m dịka nwoke". – Tom

“I would say it gives young men a very dangerous idea of what sex is and what it provides”. – Bob

“It also affects body image and my view of how someone should look and how sex should           look and be”. – Harry

"Ihe ndị a doro anya nwere mmetụta dị ntakịrị na echiche m banyere ọdịdị mmadụ ma echere m na nke a bụ n'ihi na ọ na-egosi ụwa akụkọ ifo, ebe ndị a na-egosi na ọ fọrọ nke nta ka ọ bụrụ ihe odide nke ụwa n'ezie". – Bob

SEM consumed as the norm may be contributing to confusion around sexual expectations.  In this group, different levels of understanding or insight into whether SEM represented ‘real’ sexual behaviour were apparent.

5. Ndụ Mmekọahụ Dị Mma

Participants were asked about what a healthy sex life might be.  Frequency and quality were common threads within the data theme.         

"Na-enwekarị mmasị na onye nwere mmasị mmekọahụ dị ka gị." - Jay

A variety of sexual experience were reported by participants as important in the avoidance of a boring sex life,

            “Being adventurous in the bedroom and having sex regularly” – Richard

N'ụzọ dị iche, ndị nzaghachi ndị ọzọ welitere akụkụ ndị na-echebara ndị mmekọ na mmekọrịta.

"Mkparịta ụka bụ isi ihe na-akpali agụụ mmekọahụ na-akpali agụụ mmekọahụ na-akụzikarị ụzọ isi kpata ihe ụtọ nke na-adịghị egosipụta ihe onye ọlụlụ chọrọ." -Harry

“Ịnọ ná mmekọrịta chiri anya ma ọ bụ ime ihe n'eziokwu banyere onye ị bụ ma a bịa n'ihe banyere mmekọahụ. Ọ na-egosi na ị nwere nkwanye ùgwù dị mma maka mmekọahụ ọzọ. " – Ross

            "Mgbe enwere mmekọ mmetụta uche - m na-echefu mmekọahụ na-enweghị isi". – Tom           

Communication, honesty, respect and a need for emotional attachments are all reported in describing a healthy sex life but not common features of SEM.  The degree to which young men in this group recognised this varied.

Nkwurịta

The results suggest some potential pathways in the relationship between SEM consumption and sexual beliefs, understanding and practices of young men, including the variability of negative effects of SEM and the factors that may shape that. 

The contribution of this study is in exploring how young men see the connections between their own SEM consumption and behaviour and more importantly, what they see as protective within their own experience.

Consumption and acceptance of SEM was reported as growing, this is confirmed by prevalence studies (Mattebo et al 2013).  Participants reported escalating use of extreme content and becoming desensitised to this content.   With this increased availability seems data suggests normalised or mainstreaming of SEM consumption as simply ‘part of the modern age’ (Peter & Valkenburg, 2016).  Is this problemtaic?, perception of SEM as ‘real’ varied in this group, some young men may have internalised SEM sexual norms. . Rothman et al, (2015) confirms that young people use pornography for ‘instructional purposes’ and having consumed pornography feel pressure to imitate it.    Therefore, we can see how consumption and increasing extreme content could lead to confusion and unrealistic expectations potentially explaining links to sexual aggression in males (Peter & Valkenburg, 2016)

However, this effect may be highly variable.  Young men in this study, acknowledged the potential negative effects of SEM on behaviours but only in the abstract, not in relation to their own use..  Data suggests conflicting or confused views around young peoples’ expectations of a healthy sex life and appropriate beliefs and behaviours.  The variability of insight into how ‘real’ SEM is, found in this sample could be explained by mediation of problematic SEM use through pre-existing vulnerability (e.g family breakdown) and experience of protective ‘buffers’.  Family breakdown has been linked to sexual violence in larger quantitative international literature (Hielman, et al,2014) and  an extensive review of research also identified a typical user as “a male, pubertally more advanced, sensation-seeker, with weak or troubled family relations” (Peter + Valkenburg, 2016).  Potential harm reduction may require interventions targeted those at higher risk.

On the positive side, family openness around sex or sex education was framed by participants as offering some ‘protection’ or a balance to SEM representations of sex.  The findings hint at the importance of addressing possible inadequacies in current sex education (Brown et al, 2009).  Data in this study also seems to mirror previously established relationship of family role modelling or openness of appropriate behaviours, attitudes and opinions by primary caregivers to issues such as teenage sexual risk taking (Department of Health, 2013).

The value of sex education is well documented throughout current literature (Department of Health, 2013) and participants reported their sex education as inadequate in general but particularly not covering the issue of SEM.  Therefore, programmes such as ‘Its time we talked’ (Crabbe et al, 2011) that directly address pornography with young people require scientific evaluation.

Nyocha ọzọ

 Although the factors highlighted by the work in in relation to problematic consumption of SEM have been confirmed in the wider literature, the pathways of internalising norms and existing vulnerability or buffers would benefit from some larger scale quantitative investigation.  Intervention work that addresses pornography in sex education needs to build a solid evidence base through robust evaluation. In the context of recommendations by the Women and Equalities Select Committee (House of Commons, 2016) to make sex education compulsory in their report on Sexual Harassment in School, the government’s has done so and is currently consulting on content.  New programmes need to be scientifically evaluated along comparable outcome measures to enable greater accumulation of evidence.

Ọmụmụ ihe ọmụmụ

Within the limitations of a qualitative and therefore non generalizable sample, themes would benefit from large sample quantitative confirmation.   The participants were also identified through snowballing of contacts via the student/researcher in one workplace, thereby potentially resulting in less diversity. This would not have picked up  evidenced effect of deprived areas and problematic masculinities (Lorimer, McMillian, McDaid, Milne and Hunt, 2018)  The questions in the survey may have framed some of the themes identified and perhaps a more open style of interview would have enabled greater exploration.  Findings are transferable rather than generalizable The interpretation of themes from the data can be influenced by the researchers own life experience therefore, establishing reflexive practice, triangulation and using supervision to confirm interpretation are all methods used to improve qualitative rigour (Meyrick, 2006).

Widespread levels of normalised sexual harassment may be linked to increased availability and consumption of sexually explicit material.  Work to address this needs to examine young men’s understand of the role of normalised pornography use  and find ways to reduce toxic effects. This exploratory study beings to piece together a pathway of causation and affirm the potential role of protective sex education.

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Ihe Odide A:

Appendix B:Audit trail of quotes to themes – extract of coding table/wider map of themes sub themes.