Date

4-2020

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)

Chair

Fred Volk

Keywords

Addiction, Meaning, Pornography, Purpose, Religiosity, Frankl

Disciplines

Counseling | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Extensive research has examined the relationship between pornography use, religiosity, and perceived addiction to pornography. Other research has explored the connections between religiosity and meaning or purpose in life. No research has examined the potential relationship combining all four constructs in one research study. To rectify this gap, the present study examined the mediating effect of perceived addiction to pornography, as well as the moderating effect of religiosity on the direct relationship between frequency of pornography use and meaning in life. Two hundred and eighty-nine participants, aged 18–30, who admitted using pornography in the past six months completed assessments addressing pornography use, religious instability, perceived addiction to pornography and purpose in life. Quantitative analysis used both zero order correlations and regression analysis. Initial correlational results indicated a negative direction in the relationship between pornography use and purpose in life but no statistical significance. However, upon further exploration, when controlling for age, statistical significance was reported. Perceived addiction mediated the relationship between pornography use and purpose in life only when controlling for age. Religiosity, measured as religious instability, did not moderate the direct relationship. However, when controlling for age, the moderated relationship was statistically significant. Finally, religious instability did moderate the mediated relationship between pornography use, perceived addiction, and purpose in life.

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