Toward a Symbolic Substitute Hypothesis of Online Pornography Use: Alexithymia, Maladaptive Personality Domains, and Patterns of Online Engagement

Background/Objectives: Online pornography use (OPU) is widespread, yet the psychological characteristics associated with engagement in OPU remain insufficiently understood. This study examined whether maladaptive personality domains and alexithymic traits were associated with self-reported past-month OPU. Methods: A total of 525 adults (59.8% females), aged 18-68 years (M = 30.08; SD = 11.03), completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and self-report measures assessing online activities, maladaptive personality domains, and alexithymia. OPU was assessed as a dichotomous indicator of any online pornography use in the previous month. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted controlling for sociodemographic factors and other online activities. Results: Higher detachment (OR = 1.15, p = .02), difficulty identifying feelings (OR = 1.11, p < .001), and dating-site use (OR = 4.26, p = .001) were associated with higher odds of reporting past-month OPU. Being female (OR = 0.16, p < .001), psychoticism (OR = 0.88, p = .03), and externally oriented thinking (OR = 0.95, p = .04) were associated with lower odds. Conclusions: High levels of detachment and difficulty identifying feelings were associated with the likelihood of reporting past-month OPU. The findings are compatible with the view of OPU as a possible symbolic substitute for intimacy, and suggest that, for some individuals, OPU may occur in the context of interpersonal detachment and difficulties in emotional awareness.