Is stress driving compulsive porn use in India? What a Nimhans study found

A Nimhans study links anxiety, stress to problematic pornography use in Indian adults, highlighting early exposure, compulsive patterns and need to address coping and mental health, not just behaviour

Some adults report difficulty controlling their pornography use, and a new study by Nimhans, Bengaluru, suggests that anxiety and stress may play a key role in such patterns.

 

A new study titled Indian adults’ problematic pornography use: psychological correlates and predictors by researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru, published in the journal Geopsychiatry, finds that anxiety and stress are strongly linked to problematic pornography use. Based on an online survey of adults who reported difficulties with their porn use, the study also shows that early exposure may increase the risk of compulsive patterns later in life.

What is problematic pornography use?

Problematic pornography use (PPU) does not mean watching porn occasionally or out of curiosity. Researchers describe PPU as a pattern of compulsive consumption that continues despite emotional distress, guilt, social problems or interference with daily life.

 

In this study, participants showed addiction-like features such as cravings, tolerance, withdrawal and repeated failed attempts to cut down.

How common is pornography use in India today?

According to the study, pornography consumption has risen sharply in recent decades, driven by what researchers call the “triple A” factors: accessibility, affordability and anonymity. Smartphones, cheap data and private browsing have made explicit content easier than ever to access.

What did the Nimhans study examine?

The researchers conducted an online survey of 112 Indian adults aged 18 to 46 who reported problems related to pornography use. Participants were assessed using standard psychological tools measuring depression, anxiety and stress; pornography cravings; motives for pornography use such as stress relief or boredom; and addiction-related symptoms such as relapse and withdrawal. The aim was to understand not just how much people watched, but why they watched and how it connected to their mental health.

What were the key findings of the study?

According to the study, problematic pornography use showed strong positive links with anxiety, stress, depression and intense cravings. Among these, anxiety and the use of pornography as a stress-relief tool emerged as the strongest predictors.

 

In simple terms, people experiencing psychological distress were more likely to turn to pornography as a coping mechanism, and that coping strategy often made things worse, not better.

 

According to the researchers, pornography may offer short-term emotional relief, especially during periods of stress. But over time, reliance on it can deepen feelings of shame, guilt and loss of control.

 

This can create a vicious cycle: distress fuels excessive use, and excessive use intensifies emotional distress. Modern addiction models describe this as emotional dysregulation, or difficulty managing uncomfortable feelings without escaping into compulsive behaviours.

Does early exposure to pornography affect later risk?

The study found that earlier exposure to pornography was linked to a higher risk of problematic use later in life. Early exposure may reinforce cravings over time and push some users towards more extreme content to achieve the same emotional or sexual response.

 

This escalation can strengthen compulsive patterns, making it harder to disengage as adults.

What does this mean for treatment and mental health care?

The findings suggest that simply telling people to “stop watching porn” misses the point. Effective intervention needs to address underlying anxiety, stress and emotional coping styles.

 

Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance-based approaches and mindfulness interventions may help individuals regulate emotions, reduce cravings and manage shame, rather than focusing only on behaviour control.

 

The researchers call for larger and more diverse studies, including qualitative research that explores lived experiences. Understanding how gender, relationships, culture and morality interact with pornography use will be crucial for designing effective public health responses in India. 

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