The Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Thought Control Strategies on Pornography Use (2017)

Practice in Clinical Psychology 6, no. 1 (2017): 0-0.

Mehdi Darvish Molla *1, Mahmoud Shirazi 2, Zahra Nikmanesh 2

1- MA Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
2- Associate Professor Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

Abstract:  

Objective: Due to the easy access of adolescents and youth to pornography, research on the use of pornography has proliferated in recent years. The current study aimed at examining‌ the role of difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies on pornography use.

Methods: The study population included all students of Sistan and Baluchestan University in Southeastern Iran. A total of 395 students (193 males and 202 females) with the mean age of 22.35 years were selected by the multi-stage cluster sampling method. Participants completed standardized measures of frequency of pornography use, difficulties in emotion regulation, and thought control strategies. Data were analyzed with SPSS software using the Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression.

Results: The obtained results showed that 74% of male and 35% of female subjects used pornography in the past 12 months. Also, results revealed that pornography use was correlated with difficulties in emotion regulation and thought control strategies. Multiple regressions revealed that in males, difficulties in emotion regulation (β=0.27; P<0.001) can positively predict pornography use and distraction (β=-0.28; P<0.001) can negatively predict pornography use. In addition, the results demonstrated that in females, difficulties in emotion regulation (β=0.30; P<0.001) can positively predict pornography use and social control (β=-0.18; P<0.001) 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.

Keywords: Emotion regulation, Thought control, Pornography