• Sexualized Media and Sexual Risk Taking—A Biopsychosocial Prospective Study
    Aleksandar Štulhofer, Goran Koletić, Ivan Landripet
  • Social networks and pornography use as precursors of body appearance self-perception and satisfaction
    Vesna Buško, Ana Ciprić, Aleksandar Štulhofer
  • Perceived Pornography Realism as a Mediator of the Association Between Pornography Use and Problematic Sexual Behavior Among Male Adolescents (poster presentation)
    Ivan Landripet

Sexualized Media and Sexual Risk Taking—A Biopsychosocial Prospective Study
Aleksandar Štulhofer, Goran Koletić, Ivan Landripet

Abstract:
Digital technology has enabled an unprecedented availability and unrestricted use of sexually explicit material (SEM), which triggered the process of social normalization of SEM, particularly among younger generations. Considering that the first experiences with SEM almost invariably precede first sexual experiences, concerns have been raised about a potential impact of its use on children’s and young people’s sexual socialization and subsequent reproductive and sexual health outcomes. These concerns have recently been intensely debated in the context of public policy, most notably in the U.K.
The PROBIOPS study, 4-year biopsychosocial research project, aims to systematically analyze the effects of SEM and other sexualized electronic media on young people’s sexual socialization, reproductive health, and emotional and sexual wellbeing. To study is based on two panel samples of 16-year-olds recruited in two largest Croatian cities. Based on the Media Practice (“Adolescent Room Culture”) Model (Steely & Brown, 1995), the project is focused on the influence of SEM on three main outcomes: sexual behaviors, sexual beliefs and attitudes, and sexual victimization. A range of possible moderators (bio-psychological individual traits, family environment, & peer networks) and mediators are included in the study to elucidate analytical mechanisms underlying the association between sexualized media use and the target outcomes.
Preliminary structural equation modeling from the PROBIOPS first wave will be briefly presented to illustrate the conceptual and methodological logic employed in this prospective study and to demonstrate its potential.

Social networks and pornography use as precursors of body appearance self-perception and satisfaction
Vesna Buško, Ana Ciprić, Aleksandar Štulhofer

Abstract:
Following two complementary theoretical approaches to the study on the development of body appearance (dis)satisfaction, this paper examines the potential role of virtual social networks and exposure to pornography in the processes of body appearance perception and satisfaction.
The study is done as a part of an ongoing longitudinal research project focused on the role of sexually explicit material in young people’s sexual socialization and health. The analyses to be presented are based on the data collected within the first time point of the project, on the sample of 1278 female second-year high-school students. Key variables included measures of social networks and pornography use, internalization of appearance ideal, body surveillance, and body appearance satisfaction, gathered within the online administration procedures. Structural equation modeling methodology was used to test the hypotheses on the role of body surveillance and internalization processes in the relationship between the measures of pornography and social networks use and the satisfaction with own body appearance.
The analyses confirmed partially mediated contribution of the measures of the amount of use of pornography and virtual networks in accounting for the individual differences in body appearance satisfaction. The processes of internalization of appearance ideal, and the measure of body surveillance seem to have weak but significant mediation role in the relationship between virtual media use and the satisfaction with own body appearance.

Perceived Pornography Realism as a Mediator of the Association Between Pornography Use and Problematic Sexual Behavior Among Male Adolescents (poster presentation)
Ivan Landripet

Abstract:
High rates of pornography use among male adolescents have been reported in the literature. Due to a lack of real-life experiences, early exposure to pornography may contribute to the development of unrealistic ideas about sexuality and problematic sexual behaviors. This study explored the mediating role of perceived pornography realism in the association between pornography use and early sexual debut, sexual aggressiveness, and sexting.
Meditational models were tested using structural equation modeling. Participants were 928 high school male sophomores from Zagreb who reported expose to pornography (Mean age=16.1). Pornography use was measured by the frequency of use two years ago, in the past six months, and two weeks (α=.79). Validated 4-item scales were used to assess perceived pornography realism (α=.86) and sexting (α=.74). Early sexual debut (≤14) and proclivity to sexually aggressive behavior was measured with single items.
Pornography use was directly associated with sexting (β=.29; p<.01) and sexual aggression (β=.11; p<.01). Pornography use was also linked to perceived realism of pornography (β=.22; p<.01), which in turn was associated both with sexting (β=.12; p<.01) and aggressive behavior (β=.10; p<.01). Albeit small, indirect effects were statistically significant, indicating (partial) meditational role of perceived pornography realism. No evidence of direct or indirect links between pornography use and early debut was found.
Pornography use was indicated to be associated with some problematic outcomes. The findings support the need for educational programs aimed at developing critical reception of sexual representations in adolescents.