This includes sexual functioning problems, hypersexuality, and overall mental health.
“To reduce the risk of developing or worsening eating disorder symptoms, clinicians working with male clients should assess for problematic pornography use and body image concerns during therapy,” the study’s author said.
“Pornography use and eating disorders share common psychological aspects that manifest physically.”
“Both pornography use and eating disorders are behaviors that can act as defense mechanisms to repress emotional pain, and both involve some level of shame, stigma, and secrecy.”
“In addition, both are characterized by obsession, ritual, but most of all, low self-esteem and low body image.”
Previous research
According to a 2016 study, watching pornography incessantly could contribute to lower sex drives. Researchers found that “chronic Internet pornography use resulted in erectile dysfunction and delayed ejaculation.”
Pornography-related dysfunctions are still being studied. And most have results similar to the 2023 Israeli study. Pornography seems to have negative impacts physically and emotionally.
