Main factors in pornography use among adolescents identified

A study by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili has identified key factors that are associated with pornography use among adolescents in Spain. The research, published in the journal Computation, analyzed data from the 2023 ESTUDES survey, which included a sample of 33,543 adolescents. The most significant predictive variable was gender, with boys being more likely to use pornography compared to girls.

Age also showed some association with pornography use, but its predictive power was lower. Other notable factors included problematic internet use, cannabis and alcohol consumption, family conflict, and certain risky sexual behaviors. The study used a combination of traditional statistical techniques, machine learning models, and explainable artificial intelligence techniques to analyze the data.

While complex machine learning models slightly improved some indicators, the differences compared to logistic regression were minimal. The authors emphasize that these findings should not be used to diagnose, label, or sanction individual adolescents, but rather to better understand the phenomenon and inform educational and preventive policies.

The study highlights the importance of considering pornography use within the broader context of adolescent digital practices, family relationships, substance use, and sex education.