Authors

R. Velezmoro; C. Negy;J. Livia

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Arch. Sex. Behav.

Keywords

Internet use; College students; Sexual activity; Online; sexual-activities; Internet abuse; INTERNET ADDICTION; YOUNG-ADULTS; SCALE; PORNOGRAPHY; BEHAVIOR; ATTITUDES; CONSEQUENCES; PSYCHOLOGY; MODERATOR; EXPOSURE; Psychology, Clinical; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary

Abstract

The current generation of college students commonly uses the Internet for myriad sexually-related purposes. Yet, it has been suggested that usage of the Internet for sexual purposes might lead to psychological problems. In this study, undergraduate students from a public university in the U.S. (n = 320) and Peru (n = 251) completed questionnaires addressing their online sexual activity (OSA), psychological adjustment, and family environment and communication. Results indicated that Peruvians used the Internet significantly more than U.S. students to view sexually-explicit material (SEM), find sexual partners, and search for sex-related information. Men, irrespective of nationality, used the Internet to view SEM significantly more than women. Social support, religiosity, and erotophilia were found to moderate the relations between nationality and OSA. In absolute terms, both national groups, on average, engaged in OSA a relatively low number of hours each week. Further, no differences were found in maladjustment between those who engage in OSA and those who do not, suggesting that concerns over OSA are probably unwarranted.

Journal Title

Archives of Sexual Behavior

Volume

41

Issue/Number

4

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

1015

Last Page

1025

WOS Identifier

WOS:000306283300024

ISSN

0004-0002

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