The nexus between porn and psychosocial/psychosexual well-being among gay and bisexual men

The digital age has amplified exposure to pornography, particularly among gay and bisexual men, intensifying the ongoing research debate surrounding its impact on well-being.We recruited 632 Australian gay and bisexual men to participate in an online survey to examine the relationship between porn use and their psychosocial/psychosexual well-being.Data on demographics, psychosocial well-being, understandings of sexuality, sexual selfesteem, connectedness to the LGBT community, and porn use, including porn use statements developed for this study, were collected.Most participants reported viewing porn a few times per week or once a day.Associations were identified between frequency, length of porn use, and other concepts.Older participants used porn less frequently, while those with higher psychological distress tended to be at opposite ends/poles of porn use frequency.Higher connectedness to the LGBT community was associated with less frequent porn use.Certain beliefs about porn were correlated with the frequency and length of porn use; for example, participants engaging with 'kinkier' porn and considering themselves 'kinkier' had longer viewing sessions.The findings offer insights into the interplay between individual characteristics, well-being, and patterns of porn usage in this population, contributing to a deeper understanding of the relationships between these concepts.