Abstract
The current generation of college students commonly uses the Internet for myriad sexually-related purposes. Yet, it has been
suggested that usage of the Internet for sexual purposes might lead to psychological problems. In this study, undergraduate
students from a public university in the U.S. (n = 320) and Peru (n = 251) completed questionnaires addressing their online sexual activity (OSA), psychological adjustment, and family environment
and communication. Results indicated that Peruvians used the Internet significantly more than U.S. students to view sexually-explicit
material (SEM), find sexual partners, and search for sex-related information. Men, irrespective of nationality, used the Internet
to view SEM significantly more than women. Social support, religiosity, and erotophilia were found to moderate the relations
between nationality and OSA. In absolute terms, both national groups, on average, engaged in OSA a relatively low number of
hours each week. Further, no differences were found in maladjustment between those who engage in OSA and those who do not,
suggesting that concerns over OSA are probably unwarranted.
suggested that usage of the Internet for sexual purposes might lead to psychological problems. In this study, undergraduate
students from a public university in the U.S. (n = 320) and Peru (n = 251) completed questionnaires addressing their online sexual activity (OSA), psychological adjustment, and family environment
and communication. Results indicated that Peruvians used the Internet significantly more than U.S. students to view sexually-explicit
material (SEM), find sexual partners, and search for sex-related information. Men, irrespective of nationality, used the Internet
to view SEM significantly more than women. Social support, religiosity, and erotophilia were found to moderate the relations
between nationality and OSA. In absolute terms, both national groups, on average, engaged in OSA a relatively low number of
hours each week. Further, no differences were found in maladjustment between those who engage in OSA and those who do not,
suggesting that concerns over OSA are probably unwarranted.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9862-x
- Authors
- Rodrigo Velezmoro, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-1390, USA
- Charles Negy, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816-1390, USA
- Jose Livia, Department of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Frederico Villarreal, Lima, Peru
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002