Violent Pornography use and sexually aggressive behavior in college students: The mediating role of rape myth endorsement

The proliferation of violent pornography and its potential link to sexually aggressive behavior has raised concerns among authors. While some research has demonstrated the association between the use of violent pornography and sexually aggressive behavior, rape myths also play an important role in this relationship. Further, most research has been carried out with men, while female perpetrators are often overlooked, despite evidence suggesting their involvement in sexual offences. The present study aims to test the association between the use of violent/ non-violent pornography, the endorsement of rape myths, and the use of sexually aggressive tactics in college students. Furthermore, we aim to understand potential disparities between genders and consumption patterns. A sample of 903 participants was collected through an online self-report survey targeting college students. This survey evaluated the endorsement of rape myths, the perpetration of sexually aggressive behaviors, and the use of violent pornography through three key variables: prevalence, frequency, and intensity. In terms of consumption patterns, spanking and hair-pulling were the most reported behaviors watched. Also, men started watching pornography earlier than women. A series of mediation models were used to test these associations. Results showed that, non-violent pornography consumption did not influence sexually aggressive behavior for either gender, also rape myths did not mediate this relationship. For both men and women, the prevalence of violent pornography predicted sexually aggressive behaviors, while rape myth endorsement partially mediated this relationship for woman. The intensity and frequency of violent pornography use were not significant predictors of sexual aggression among participants who visualize violent pornography. This study adds to the body of literature about violent pornography use and sexual aggression, while also examining consumption patterns and highlighting how these relationships differ between genders.