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Moral incongruence, the conflict between an individual’s beliefs and behaviors, has been identified as a significant contributor to psychological distress among pornography users. However, little research has focused specifically on how this dynamic affects single men. Thus, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between morally incongruent pornography use and sexual shame, loneliness, and depression in a sample of 167 single men, with particular attention to the moderating role of secure friendships. Participants completed self-report measures assessing pornography use, moral disapproval, sexual shame, friendship attachment, loneliness, and depression. Results of mediation and moderation analyses indicated that morally incongruent pornography use was significantly associated with increased sexual shame which was linked to greater loneliness and depressive symptoms. Importantly, the presence of secure friendships was protective, attenuating the effects of morally incongruent pornography use. These findings suggest that for single men who experience moral conflict over their pornography use sexual shame and loneliness may function as a pathway through which morally incongruent pornography use contributes to depression. However, cultivating secure friendships may mitigate the development of sexual shame and its effects. This study highlights the importance of relational support in addressing the psychological impacts of moral incongruence and suggests potential avenues for intervention and future research.
Waggoner et al. (Tue,) studied this question.