Religiosity, Pornography Use, Sexual Behavior, and Subjective Well-Being among Mizo Youth

Description

Lincy Khaikei, C. Lalfamkima Varte, and Lalpekkimi Ralte (Department of Psychology, Mizoram University, Mizoram)

Research indicates that pornography consumption influences individuals, couples, and society in complex ways, with both potential benefits and negative consequences (Grubbs & Kraus, 2021). While it may help individuals affirm their sexual identity, explore their sexuality, and enhance sexual satisfaction within relationships, it is also associated with various psychological, social, and physical problems, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and sexual dysfunction. However, most existing studies are focused in Western societies, limiting the understanding of pornography use in the Indian setting, particularly within Mizo society, where Christian beliefs discourage these practices. Addressing the underlying factors is essential for developing culturally relevant approaches to tackle Problematic Pornography Use (PPU) and its impact on mental well-being. Therefore, this study examines the relationships between Religiosity, Pornography Use, Sexual Behavior, and Subjective Well-Being by using bivariate correlation matrix and stepwise hierarchical multiple regression. The 6-item BergenYale Sex Addiction Scale (BYSAS; Andreassen, Pallesen, Griffiths, Torsheim, & Sinha, 2018); Compulsive Sexual Behavior Inventory -13 (Coleman, Swineburn, Raymond, Coleman, & Miner, 2020); the 18-item Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS; Bőthe, Tóth-Király, Zsila, Griffiths, Demetrovics, & Orosz, 2018); and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale developed by researchers at the Universities of Warwick and Edinburgh are employed among Mizo youth (N=303). The findings disclose that high religious involvement is negatively correlated with compulsive sexual behavior, sexual addiction, and problematic pornography consumption, while it is positively correlated with mental well-being. Furthermore, high parental religious involvement (R2=0.25) and individuals’ high self-religious position (R2=0.28) significantly predicted better mental well-being. In contrast, increase in compulsive sexual behavior (R2=0.22) and problematic pornography consumption (R2=0.27) were significant predictors of lower mental well-being.