Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40200245›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2025

Sex differences in problematic pornography use among adolescents: a network analysis.

Alejandro Villena-Moya, Marc N Potenza, Roser Granero, Úrsula Paiva, Gonzalo Arrondo, Carlos Chiclana-Actis, Fernando Fernández-Aranda, Susana Jiménez-Murcia, Enrique Normand, Lluís Ballester and 1 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Sex differences in compulsive sexual behavior disorder.Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Alejandro Villena-MoyaInstituto de Transferencia e Investigación (ITEI), Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7240-4440
Marc N PotenzaDepartment of Psychiatry and Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6323-1354
Roser GraneroCiber Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6308-3198
Úrsula PaivaMind-Brain Group, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1992-0507
Gonzalo ArrondoMind-Brain Group, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3085-8959
Carlos Chiclana-ActisInstituto de Transferencia e Investigación (ITEI), Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7586-7045
Fernando Fernández-ArandaCiber Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2968-9898
Susana Jiménez-MurciaCiber Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain. sjimenez@bellvitgehospital.cat.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3596-8033
Enrique NormandUnidad de Investigación y actualización clínica de Grupo Laberinto, Madrid, Spain.
Lluís BallesterUniversitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1861-7511
Gemma Mestre-BachInstituto de Transferencia e Investigación (ITEI), Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, La Rioja, Spain. gemma.mestre@unir.net.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5345-0484

Funding

Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas 2019I47 and 2021I031Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades RTI2018-101837-B-100Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad FIS PI14/00290, FIS PI17/01167Ramón y Cajal grant RYC2020-030744-I
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPornography use is a common practice in adolescents and has been observed to be more prevalent in males. There are different consequences associated with pornography use and problematic use that may present differently among males and females. The interplay between these factors remains underexplored.

methodsUsing network analysis (a novel model of growing interest), this study examined the interrelationships between variables linked to PPU (such as victimization, sexual double standards, loneliness, family relationships, and risky sexual behaviors) in a Spanish sample of N = 650 adolescents. The analysis focused on identifying central variables and differences between sexes.

resultsMales demonstrated higher levels of intentional pornography use and PPU, with sexual pleasure as a central node in their network. PPU in males was associated with more sexist models of sexuality. For females, online victimization and loneliness emerged as key factors, highlighting their vulnerability to digital harm. Both sexes shared a cluster of PPU-related factors, including conflict, mood modification, relapse, and withdrawal, which were more pronounced in males.

conclusionsThese findings highlight the potential of network analysis in the study of PPU in adolescents and its possible effects, providing information for an in-depth understanding of the differences between the sexes. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of developing gender-sensitive prevention and intervention strategies to address the unique needs and vulnerabilities of males and females.

Indexed as

Adolescent BehaviorEroticaSexual BehaviorAdolescentCrime VictimsFemaleHumansLonelinessMaleRisk-TakingSex FactorsSpainAddictive behaviorsAdolescentsCompulsive behaviorsImpulsive behaviorsPornographyProblematic pornography useSexSexually explicit materialsTrauma

Identifiers

PMID40200245
PMCPMC11978135

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.