“Seen, Yet Unseen”: Predictors of Problematic Pornography Use Among Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, studies explored mental health status and associated addictive behavior of students during the pandemic, but none has examined problematic pornography use (PPU) and its associated risk factors. This study attempted to explore the predictors of PPU among students. Data were collected conveniently from 490 students during mid-2022. Findings indicate that students engaged in a relationship or married (B = −5.09, p < 0.001) experienced less PPU, while bisexual or homosexual students (B = 6.91, p = 0.009) had higher PPU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also apparent that higher exposure to pornography ((≥ 3 times) (B = 4.00, p = 0.007), especially during the COVID-19 (B = 7.13, p < 0.001), and intention to masturbate (B = 5.48, p = 0.003) were positively and significantly associated with PPU. Surprisingly, it is evident that despite a negative attitude toward pornography, students experienced an increase in PPU (B = 0.39, p < 0.001). Hence, educators and policymakers should devise effective monitoring mechanisms to prevent young people from accessing it, while providing alternative forms of entertainment, developing healthy coping strategies, and engaging in non-addictive physical activities as deterrent measures for refraining oneself from the use of pornography.