Differences in Problematic Pornography Use Between Exercising and Non-Exercising Hungarian Adults

Problematic pornography use (PPU) is associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes. Physical activity may protect against behavioral addictions, but no study has compared PPU between exercising and non-exercising adults. In this cross-sectional survey, 439 Hungarian adults (259 women, 180 men; Mage = 29.31, SD = 13.45; range = 18–76) were classified as non-exercising (n = 119) or exercising (n = 320) by self-report. Overall, 58.1% reported intentional past-year pornography use and completed the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS; α = .99). Chi-square tests and analysis of covariance controlling for age and education showed that non-exercising participants more often reported pornography use (72.3% vs. 52.8%) and scored higher on PPU. Men also reported greater use (82.2% vs. 41.3%) and higher PPU than women. A significant interaction revealed the highest PPU among non-exercising men (M = 94.88, SD = 28.05), followed by non-exercising women (M = 40.20, SD = 25.70), exercising men (M = 33.93, SD = 16.24), and exercising women (M = 27.61, SD = 18.10). Among pornography users, 52.3% of non-exercisers reached the PPCS at-risk cutoff (≥76), versus 3.0% of exercisers. Exercise status was robustly associated with PPU, with not exercising and male gender representing compounding risk factors.