Does Pornography Misinform Consumers? The Association between Pornography Use and Porn-Congruent Sexual Health Beliefs

Pornography may contribute to sexual health illiteracy due its often fantastical and unrealistic depictions of sex. This cross-sectional study investigated whether pornography use was associated with holding porn-congruent beliefs among a sample 276 Australian Singaporean university students (Mage = 23.03, SDage 7.06, 67.9% female, 47.8% Australian). The majority participants (95.5% males 58.9% females) reported viewing in the past six months. Perceived realism prior experience were tested as potential moderators relationship between frequency beliefs. showed no zero-order association overall (although significant observed female participants). However, positive porn found sample, after controlling for demographic variables. Neither perceived nor act moderators. Interestingly, beliefs, such that unrelated provides some preliminary support having misinformation effect on knowledge consumers.