Frequent porn use leads to depression, loneliness among young Americans: survey

September 17, 2024

A new study has revealed that young Americans who consume pornography experience more depression and loneliness than their peers who do not.

The Christian Post reports that the Institute for Family Studies has release the results of research it conducted in May and June of this year in which 2,000 adults under the age of 40 were surveyed about their use of porn.

According to the Institute for Family Studies, 11% of the respondents surveyed indicated that they watch pornographic, sexually explicit content at least once a day.

The survey also sought to measure the impact of regular porn consumption on the respondents’ mental health. Thirty two percent of those surveyed who reported looking at porn at least once a day reported being “lonely” and described feeling “down and depressed.”

By contrast, respondents who said they either never view pornography or view it only a few times a year had much better mental health outcomes with only 19% saying they feel “down and depressed” and 20% reporting that they feel “lonely.”

In response to the publication of the research, the Institute for Family Studies stated: “Considering these finds, addressing the mental health risks associated with frequent pornography use, particularly its link to depression and loneliness, should be a priority for health professionals and American policymakers. Amid America’s ongoing mental health crisis, especially among young adults, it is crucial to understand and mitigate the addictive nature of online pornography.” 

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