Abstract
Recent proliferation of internet enabled technology has significantly changed the way in which adolescents and youths consume and encounter with explicit material. The internet is basically available in vast number of forms including; laptops amongst other electronic devices. With this increased growth, internet has come easier and more ubiquitous access to pornographic material. The presence of this literature review is to review recent literature within the last ten years regarding the impact of pornography on sexual development and health. This literature also reveals the impact of the internet on sexual attitudes, beliefs, sexual; aggression and the behavior of the adolescents. In the discussed literature, the authors also discuss different literatures that are related to the influence of sexually explicit material on body image, self concept, self development, and physical development. Finally, recommendations for future researches have been discussed highlighting on different weaknesses of the studies with basis on the literature review.
In present years, the proliferation of pornographic materials and their increased access are such that it is not longer a matter of whether the adolescents will be exposed to pornography, but when. Exposure of adolescents to pornographic materials may be inadvertent such as the case of access through unsolicited mails or accidental exposure. In some cases, it may also be intentional. This is an aspect that has raised concerns as young people are constantly being inundated with sexual information long before they are able to integrate it into a health sexual identity, which has ramifications to both the society and the concerned individual. Exposure to pornographic materials to different adolescents is relative. It varies with social, demographic, and personal characteristics. Historically, access to pornographic materials by adolescents was perceived to be a taboo. It still remains so for the younger children. The reason for exposure to different pornographic materials varies and they are dependent on age and sex. Research on the effects of pornographic materials exposure has been guided by a variety of theoretical perspectives. These perspectives have guided different researches on the effects of these materials.
According to Wallmyr & Welin (2006) the probability of adolescents getting access to pornographic material before the age of eighteen is very high. Wallmyr & Welin (2006) depict that there is scarcity of information on adolescent based researchers. The research examines the different factors that underpin pornography exposure and stressing on how the risk factors for exposure and problematic sexual behaviors intersect to contribute to harm. This is a comprehensive research that illustrated an understanding of the complex interplay of factors such as attitude, gender, personal characteristics, and age. The study also provides a coherent recommendation on the development strategies that can be laid to assist young people to avoid adverse outcomes from constant exposure to pornographic materials. However, the research presents incomplete evidence on the direct and possible harm that is caused by early exposure to pornographic materials by adolescents. The interpretation of information on the research study can be highly contested. This is down to the fact that the research was based on an empirical study which is wanting in determining the impact.
In a study on the impact of pornography on children and youth, Hald et al, (2009) articulate that violent media impacts the youths and children. The research depicts that sexual objectification highly impacts the mental and physical health of adolescents and youth. Sexual objectification is defines as the portrayal of a child as a thing for other to sexually use and abuse. From the research study, we realize that there is a direct relation between sexualized mainstream media as it contributes to early onset of sexual behavior in youths. The research shows a significant relationship between pornography consumption and the attitudes supporting violence against women. This is a relationship that was observed to be stronger for violent type of pornography as compared to non violent forms. The research further reports that children and youths are highly impacted as they get to learn about themselves in a purified environment that is paired with lack of exposure to health messages and images which affects that vulnerability to victimization. This is a substantial research where follow ups over a period of one year were made on the selected subjects. The sample size was also significant as 876 people were involve in the research study as the study population. The sample selected was non bias as nearly majority of the respondents had gained exposure to pornographic movies and magazines. The weakness in the research study was the absence of the exclusion criteria. Different backgrounds were not put into consideration during the research study. The study also failed to categorize the materials that were used by the youths and children as violent and non violent x-rated material. It failed to examine the two forms separately which would arguably have an effect.
In a research study on the influence of media on adolescent sexual behavior Rebecca eta al, (2011) the researchers highlighted on the direct impact of the media on sexual activity of the study group. The research depicts that 60% of adolescents and youth have a desktop or a computer. Among this percentage, 80% of the study group had access to the internet with the majority having high speed lines. This highlight how online activity is likely to be on the cards and expose adolescents to different new media. The research found out that 64 percent of teens have managed to create and post content on the net. The positive aspect of the research is the lack of drawing a conclusion that exposure to the internet means accessing pornographic materials. There are vast online activities that the adolescents conduct online including; playing games, seeking health information, social networking and watching videos. The study comprehensively examines the influence of pornography exposure on young adults through correlation designs. However, the research has vastly cast its focus on traditional media. The study also highly focuses on adolescent male which is rather bias. Though the internet makes pornographic material accessible to the majority of the adolescents, there is a crop of adolescents who report permissive sexual attitudes. Being a strong longitudinal survey design, the findings from the research can be used to open new grounds for future research.
Owens et al (2012) conducted a research on the impact internet pornography on adolescents. Internet is constantly available to adolescents on their laptops and mobile phones. This has made access to pornography more ubiquitous and easier. The research draws links between internet pornography on beliefs, sexual attitudes, sexual aggression, and behaviors. The authors of the research study comprehensively discuss the literature that has been documented over the years on the effect of sexual explicit sexual materials on body image, self concept, and social development. The study is weak per se due to the number of the study sample that were involved in the research. The study sample was not classified on whether they have regular access; unwanted exposure and who were the more likely vulnerable population to be exposed.
There are associations between online pornography and sexual behavior among adolescents (Luder et al, 2011). In this study, the authors assessed to what extent the willingness of exposure has changed possible associations. The research also determined the profiles of the youths who had been exposed to online pornography. The research reports on the social costs of pornography on these associations. From the findings, the exposed population to pornography materials was likely to be boys. Girls who had constantly had access to these materials were students (Luder et al, 2011). The research study is comprehensive as deliberate or in deliberate exposure was used in clustering the study samples. The research concluded that there is little association between risky sexual behaviors and pornography exposure. Though this is a comprehensive research, it failed to highlight on the sexual orientation of the study samples. We all know there are different forms of pornography materials across the net suiting each group of sexual orientation. This is a factor that would have been used in the research parameters to increase the reliability and validity of the research.
In a national survey on exposure to internet pornography among children and resulting behavioral changes, Ybarra et al, 2011. The research articulated that images may promote the perception that certain sexual practices are okay. From the study, it is noted that the majority of the adolescents indicated that internet pornography promotes negative attitudes towards women and girls. The study takes a nontraditional look on the various characteristics that are related to women and sex (Ybarra et al, 2011). Majority of the previous researches have been conducted in the behaviors and beliefs that are related to women and sex. The research findings are substantial and strong as they put into account different demographic characteristics of the adolescents. The research managed to put into account parental and caregivers involvement among the pornography seekers. The study also managed to involve those subjects that get materials offline something that had been previously overlooked by the majority of the researchers on this subject. This study is limited as the data collected cannot be used to represent all the young people. Being a cross sectional study, it precludes temporary reference.
The measure of exposure by adolescents to pornographic materials is a dichotomous indicator. This makes it possible that the intensity of exposure to pornographic materials may reveal variance in psycho social challenge. It is also evident that majority of the research conducted in these filed are empirical and cross sectional in design. To get a more open scope into the subject, longitudinal research is adamant. Longitudinal studies should therefore, be conducted to parse out the contribution and temporarily of events. For instance, they should seek to highlight further on whether intentional exposure of pornography leads to delinquent behavior. Key developer and researchers seeking to present intervention strategies should be keen. It is essential that legal and digital expertise is sought to ensure the issues of targeting and reach are overcome.
Researchers need to be keen on whether exposure to the new media information only has adverse effects, as opposed to the possible positive aspect on sexual health. Researchers should seek to present the effect on the amount of sexual contact an adolescent is exposed. It is arguably known to everyone that exposure to pornography may have an effect. This is an aspect that has vast literature to support. Researchers should do further research to develop interventions and ways to improve sexual education rather than constantly conveying conflicting messages on sexuality. This topic is an apparent paradox. Though it is regarded that there are negative effects of exposure to these forms of media, some sources also depict that it is a source of inspiration and knowledge. This is an aspect that can only be clearly define through pertinent and vigorous research.
References
Hald, G.; Malamuth, N., & Yuen, C. (2009). Pornography and attitudes supporting violence against women: Revisiting the relationship in non experimental studies. Aggressive Behavior. 35:1-7. http://www.moralityinmedia.org/pornsEffects/HowAdultPornographyHarmsChildren.pdf
Owens, W., Richard J., Jill C., Manning, Rory., & Reid, C. The Impact of Internet Pornography on Adolescents: A Review of the Research. Vol. 19, Iss. 1-2, 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/usac20
Rebecca L. C., Steven, C. M., & Rebecca, S. Influence of New Media on Adolescent Sexual Health: Evidence and Opportunities. Retrieved from: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/11/AdolescentSexualActivity/NewMediaLitRev/
Wallmyr, G. & Welin, C. (2006). Young People, Pornography, and Sexuality: Sources and Attitudes. The Journal of School Nursing. 22(5) 290-295.
Ybarra, M., Kimberly J. (2008). The impact of the Internet, multimedia and virtual reality on behavior and society, 8 (5), p.473-486. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16232040?dopt=Abstract
