Stress Susceptibility, Affective Responses toward Acute Stressors and Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Context of Problematic Pornography Use

The problematic use of pornography (PPU) is one phenotype of compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Stress has been identified as central factor involved in dysregulated behaviors, acting both as cause and consequence. Overall, 99 heterosexual males participated in an experimental study. Experience of early childhood trauma, chronic stress, acute responses toward a stressor, emotion regulation strategies, and coping were associated with symptoms of PPU. Alterations within neural stress circuits due to childhood trauma and chronic stress may interact with neural circuits of reward and executive control. Coping with acute, chronic and past stressors should be an essential component in treatment approaches.

Automated summary

The problematic use of pornography (PPU) is a phenotype of compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Stress plays a central role in dysregulated behaviors, acting as both a cause and consequence. A study involving 99 heterosexual males found that early childhood trauma, chronic stress, acute stress responses, emotion regulation strategies, and coping were associated with PPU symptoms. Alterations in neural stress circuits resulting from childhood trauma and chronic stress may interact with reward and executive control circuits. Coping with acute, chronic, and past stressors should be incorporated into treatment approaches.