Religiosity and Pornography Use: A Preliminary Study Investigating Dimensions of Catholic Religiosity as Protective Factors Against the Use of Pornography Among Adolescent Male Catholics

Abstract

This preliminary study investigates the relationship between dimensions of Catholic religiosity and pornography use (PU) among adolescent Catholic males ( N = 39) in Canada and the USA. Using data collected from a survey, correlations and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine how Catholic religiosity dimensions predict PU. Results show that Moral Authority negatively predicts PU, while other dimensions like Devotional Range, Relationship with God, and Institutional Participation remain non-significant. The findings suggest that accepting Catholic-Christian moral teachings may reduce PU, highlighting the potential of Moral Authority as a protective factor against negative outcomes associated with PU. However, limitations in sample size and scope suggest the need for further research to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.