Problematic pornography use (PPU) among Indian adults is closely associated with psychological distress, with anxiety and stress emerging as key predictors, according to a recent study by researchers from NIMHANS.
The findings add to growing evidence that while pornography consumption is widespread, a subset of users develop compulsive patterns that adversely affect their mental health and daily functioning.
The study, published last month in Geopsychiatry, an open-access journal, is based on an online survey of 112 adults aged between 18 and 46, who reported difficulties related to their pornography use. The findings show significant positive correlations between PPU and symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and pornography cravings, while early exposure to pornography was linked to a higher likelihood of problematic use later in life.
Triple ‘A’ factors
Pornography consumption has risen steadily over the past few decades, driven largely by what researchers describe as the “Triple A” factors – accessibility, affordability and anonymity – along with the increasing normalisation of explicit content through digital platforms and social media, said Manoj Kumar Sharma, pProfessor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) Clinic at NIMHANS.
Dr. Sharma, who is the corresponding author of the study, told The Hindu that most individuals consume pornography without significant harm while a subset develop compulsive patterns that persist despite psychological, social or moral consequences.
“Empirical research on problematic pornography use in India remains limited despite its growing prevalence. Our study attempts to address this gap by examining the psychological correlates and predictors of PPU in the Indian context,” he said.
Participants were assessed using standardised tools measuring depression, anxiety and stress, pornography cravings, motives for use, and addiction-related symptoms such as tolerance, withdrawal and relapse.
Coping strategy
M. Rajashekar, PhD scholar in the Department of Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS, and a member of the research team, said the findings suggested that individuals experiencing psychological distress may be more likely to use pornography as a maladaptive coping strategy, particularly for stress reduction.
“Anxiety and stress-related motives emerged as significant predictors of problematic use, indicating a bidirectional relationship – distress may fuel excessive consumption, which in turn can intensify feelings of guilt, shame and emotional difficulties,” he said.
The researchers also found that early exposure to pornography could increase vulnerability to problematic patterns by reinforcing cravings and escalating consumption over time. This could lead some users to seek more intense or extreme content, further strengthening compulsive behaviour, the researchers noted in the study.
Challenges
Highlighting the challenges of researching pornography use in India, the study pointed to cultural stigma, moral taboos and social desirability biases that limit open discussion and help-seeking. As a result, much of the existing understanding and treatment approaches are drawn from Western literature, which may not fully account for India’s socio-cultural context.
The authors argued that the findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive and psychologically informed interventions that address underlying distress rather than focusing solely on controlling behaviour.
Evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance-based therapies and mindfulness-based interventions could help individuals manage emotional dysregulation and reduce shame associated with problematic use.
Calling for further research, the study emphasised the need for larger and more diverse samples, as well as qualitative studies, to better understand the lived experiences of individuals struggling with problematic pornography use and to inform effective public health responses in India.
Published – December 17, 2025 10:51 pm IST
