Emerging Adults’ Expectations for Pornography Use in the Context of Future Committed Romantic Relationships: A Qualitative Study

Using qualitative content analysis from the written comments of 404 primarily heterosexual college students, we examined (1)
their expectations for pornography use while married or in a committed long-term relationship and (2) variations by gender.
Four prominent groups emerged. A majority of men (70.8 %) and almost half of women (45.5 %) reported circumstances (alone
or with their partners) wherein pornography use was acceptable in a relationship and several conditions for, and consequences
associated with, such use also emerged. Another group (22.3 % men; 26.2 % women) viewed pornography use as unacceptable because
of being in a committed relationship whereas a third group (5.4 % men; 12.9 % women) reported that pornography use was unacceptable
in any context or circumstance. A final group emerged of a few women (10.4 %) who stated that a partner’s use of pornography
was acceptable, but they did not expect to use it personally. Implications for relationship education among emerging adults
and future research on pornography use within the context of romantic relationships are discussed.