(860) Problematic Online Pornography Use Among Medical Students

Introduction With the advent of the Internet and digital technologies, pornography has become rapidly, anonymously, and limitlessly accessible, leading to widespread consumption worldwide, particularly among young adults. Problematic pornography use refers to repeated, compulsive, or uncontrolled consumption that can cause psychological distress, loss of control, or negative consequences in personal, relational, or academic life. Objective The primary objective of this study is to assess problematic online pornography use among medical students. The secondary aim is to identify socio-demographic factors associated with this behavior. Methods This is a monocentric cross-sectional study conducted among medical students between December 2024 and January 2025 through an online questionnaire distributed by email. We used the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS-18) in its validated translated version. A score ≥ 76 indicates problematic use. The Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were applied for data comparison, with a significance threshold set at 5% (α = 0.05). Results Out of 1,282 emails sent, 38 students agreed to participate in the survey. The mean age of participants was 21 years (range: 18–26 years). More than half of the study population was female, with a sex ratio of 0.8. The average daily Internet use was 6 hours and 25 minutes. The smartphone was the most frequently used device for Internet access (97.3%). According to the PPCS-18, the rate of problematic pornography use was 13% (n = 5). This behavior was significantly associated with being in the second cycle of medical studies, living alone, using a smartphone to connect to the Internet, spending nine hours or more online per day, and engaging in autoerotic activity. Conclusions The prevalence of problematic pornography use, according to the PPCS-18, was 13% among medical students. The main limitation of this study is the low participation rate among medical students. In light of these findings, it appears essential to adopt an integrated preventive approach combining comprehensive sexual education, psychological support, and digital safety strategies, to help students develop a healthier and more mindful relationship with digital sexuality. Disclosure No