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Abstract
Objective: This study investigated the relationship between internet pornography consumption and body shame among emerging adults, with a specific focus on the mediating role of social comparison and the examination of gendered effects.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of emerging adults. Standardized measures were used to assess levels of pornography consumption, engagement in social comparison with performers, and experiences of body shame. Mediation analysis was performed to test the proposed pathway.
Results: Findings confirmed that frequent consumption of internet pornography significantly predicts higher levels of body shame. This relationship was fully mediated by an upward social comparison process, whereby individuals internalize unrealistic bodily ideals from pornographic content and engage in unfavorable self-evaluations. Furthermore, a pronounced gendered effect was identified, with young men reporting significantly higher levels of both problematic pornography use and resultant body shame than young women.
Conclusion: The results challenge the prevalent assumption that body image disturbances are primarily a female concern, highlighting young men’s vulnerability within digital sexual environments. The study underscores the critical role of harmful social comparison as the psychological mechanism linking pornography exposure to adverse self-perception. These findings necessitate the development of targeted media literacy programs and gender-sensitive mental health interventions to mitigate the negative impact of online pornography on psychological well-being in the digital age.
Keywords: Internet pornography; body shame; social comparison; emerging adulthood; gender differences; media effects; body image