Is There A Relationship Between Depression And Pornography? Here's What Experts Say

Illustration (Christopher Lemerci/Pexels)

JAKARTA - There are many reasons why people consume pornographic content. This can be in the form of increasing intimacy with sexual partners, self-exploring, to overcoming boredom.

In fact, although it is often a distigmatic and controversial topic, watching pornography is associated with certain health benefits. A study published in the journal Sociology, for example, found that watching pornography can provide education value for some people. Other studies from Carnegie Mellon University show that watching porn reduces stress response in adult men.

The impact of watching porn on mental health is not limited to that. Other studies found a link between the use of pornography and the increase in symptoms of depression. In the scientific community, most talks about watching pornography focus on its impact on the brain reward system.

Watching all kinds of pornography activates dopamine production, a chemical that can increase mood. And in some studies also showed that watching pornography can be associated with depression.

Studies on this topic are still limited, inconclusive, and conflicting. However, existing studies show that the consumption of pornography and depression has complex relationships.

Here are some of the latest studies:

Despite these findings, the point is that there is not enough data to conclude that watching pornography has a negative impact on mental health or causes depression.

However, you may ask, what if you live with depression? Can the use of pornography worsen symptoms?

"Pornography does not worsen depression," said Paul Greene, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, reported by Psych Central, Tuesday, October 31.

"However, if this prevents someone who is depressed from maintaining a relationship or doing other activities that increase mood. Like exercising or socializing. So indirectly it can worsen depression," explained Greene.

"For more details, there's nothing wrong with watching pornography," said Alphonso Nathan, therapist, author, and vice president Brightside Counseling.

"But if it becomes an obsession and disrupts your daily life, that might be a problem," Nathan said in support of a statement Paul Greene made.

In many cases, if watching porn becomes an obsession, it can cause you to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Depression is considered one of the most common mental health conditions. Research shows that pornographic consumption is also increasingly widespread, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the relationship between depression and pornography is still unclear. Several studies have shown a correlation between the consumption of pornography and the symptoms of depression. However, studies of this topic are still limited and inconclusive. Moreover, it is still unknown whether depression can lead to watching porn comprehensively.

This largely depends on each person's feelings for pornographic consumption in general. If you feel that watching pornography can interfere with everyday life or cause psychological stress. Or if you are confident that you may experience depression, know that professional help is always available. A trusted mental health professional, as well as a support group, can be an excellent first step towards finding a bright spot and treatment.