Journal article
Problematic internet pornography use: The role of craving, desire thinking, and metacognition
Addictive Behaviors, Vol.70, pp.65-71
2017
Abstract
Defined as sexually explicit material that elicits erotic thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, internet pornography is a prevalent form of media that may facilitate problematic use and craving for engagement. Research suggests that superordinate cognitions and information processing, such as desire thinking and metacognition, are central to the activation and escalation of craving in addictive behaviours. The current study aimed to contribute to the literature by testing the proposed metacognitive model of desire thinking and craving in a sample of problematic pornography users, while revising the model by incorporating negative affect. From a theoretical perspective, environmental cues trigger positive metacognitions about desire thinking that directly influence desire thinking, resulting in the escalation of craving, negative metacognitions, and negative affect. Participants were recruited via an online survey and screened for problematic internet pornography use. Path analyses were used to investigate relationships among the aforementioned constructs in a final sample of 191 participants. Consistent with previous research, results of this study validated the existence of metacognitive processes in the activation of desire thinking and escalation of craving, while indicating that desire thinking has the potential to influence negative affect. Additionally, results supported the role of significant indirect relationships between constructs within the revised model of metacognition, desire thinking, and psychopathology. Collectively, the findings demonstrate the clinical value of a metacognitive conceptualisation of problematic pornography use. Exploring the metacognitive mechanisms that underpin problematic internet pornography use may give rise to the development of new treatment and relapse prevention strategies.
Details
- Title
- Problematic internet pornography use: The role of craving, desire thinking, and metacognition
- Authors
- Andrew Allen (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringLee Kannis-Dymand (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringMary Katsikitis (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Addictive Behaviors, Vol.70, pp.65-71
- Publisher
- Pergamon
- Date published
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.02.001
- ISSN
- 0306-4603
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2017. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Psychology; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450570602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Psychology, Clinical
- Substance Abuse
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