Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Over recent decades, the use of the Internet has dramatically increased, both for professional purposes and entertainment. We investigated the link between social media use, video games, dating apps, and pornography on men’s sexual health, which makes life easier, but also carries potential threats....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/19/6407 |
| _version_ | 1797575614881857536 |
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| author | Anna Pawlikowska-Gorzelańczyk Daniel Fichte Julia Rozmus Piotr Roder Remigiusz Flakus Ewa Szuster Kinga Brawańska Małgorzata Biernikiewicz Małgorzata Sobieszczańska Agnieszka Rusiecka Dariusz Kałka |
| author_facet | Anna Pawlikowska-Gorzelańczyk Daniel Fichte Julia Rozmus Piotr Roder Remigiusz Flakus Ewa Szuster Kinga Brawańska Małgorzata Biernikiewicz Małgorzata Sobieszczańska Agnieszka Rusiecka Dariusz Kałka |
| author_sort | Anna Pawlikowska-Gorzelańczyk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Over recent decades, the use of the Internet has dramatically increased, both for professional purposes and entertainment. We investigated the link between social media use, video games, dating apps, and pornography on men’s sexual health, which makes life easier, but also carries potential threats. Online surveys including The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale questionnaires were spread to young, sexually active men. We asked about demographics, sexual activity, and the use of social media, video games, dating apps, and pornography. We enrolled 702 men aged 18 to 60 years (mean 24.06 ± 5.70). In general, 1.6% of men were exposed to social media addiction. Social media addiction had a negative impact on IIEF scores, while pornography in general had no impact on men’s sexual health. However, more extensive use of pornography was correlated with lower IIEF scores. A negative impact of dating apps use on the IIEF score was also found but the correlation was weak (<i>p</i> = 0.049). No correlation was found between playing games and IIEF. We conclude that social media addiction negatively affected men’s sexual functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The development of strategies for the safe use of the Internet and dissemination of this knowledge through social media campaigns can help young people to recognize the first symptoms of social media addiction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:41:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87de5ba95ea64de08dd89c26db87c6ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:41:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-87de5ba95ea64de08dd89c26db87c6ca2023-11-19T14:38:21ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-10-011219640710.3390/jcm12196407Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 PandemicAnna Pawlikowska-Gorzelańczyk0Daniel Fichte1Julia Rozmus2Piotr Roder3Remigiusz Flakus4Ewa Szuster5Kinga Brawańska6Małgorzata Biernikiewicz7Małgorzata Sobieszczańska8Agnieszka Rusiecka9Dariusz Kałka10Cardiosexology Students Club, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandCardiosexology Students Club, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandCardiosexology Students Club, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandCardiosexology Students Club, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandCardiosexology Students Club, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, PolandCardiosexology Students Club, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandStudio Słowa, 50-357 Wrocław, PolandClinical Department of Geriatrics, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-369 Wroclaw, PolandStatistical Analysis Centre, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, PolandFaculty of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, 51-612 Wrocław, PolandOver recent decades, the use of the Internet has dramatically increased, both for professional purposes and entertainment. We investigated the link between social media use, video games, dating apps, and pornography on men’s sexual health, which makes life easier, but also carries potential threats. Online surveys including The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale questionnaires were spread to young, sexually active men. We asked about demographics, sexual activity, and the use of social media, video games, dating apps, and pornography. We enrolled 702 men aged 18 to 60 years (mean 24.06 ± 5.70). In general, 1.6% of men were exposed to social media addiction. Social media addiction had a negative impact on IIEF scores, while pornography in general had no impact on men’s sexual health. However, more extensive use of pornography was correlated with lower IIEF scores. A negative impact of dating apps use on the IIEF score was also found but the correlation was weak (<i>p</i> = 0.049). No correlation was found between playing games and IIEF. We conclude that social media addiction negatively affected men’s sexual functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The development of strategies for the safe use of the Internet and dissemination of this knowledge through social media campaigns can help young people to recognize the first symptoms of social media addiction.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/19/6407sexual dysfunctionaddictive behaviorpornographysocial isolation |
| spellingShingle | Anna Pawlikowska-Gorzelańczyk Daniel Fichte Julia Rozmus Piotr Roder Remigiusz Flakus Ewa Szuster Kinga Brawańska Małgorzata Biernikiewicz Małgorzata Sobieszczańska Agnieszka Rusiecka Dariusz Kałka Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic Journal of Clinical Medicine sexual dysfunction addictive behavior pornography social isolation |
| title | Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Impact of Internet Addiction, Social Media Use and Online Pornography on the Male Sexual Function in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | impact of internet addiction social media use and online pornography on the male sexual function in times of the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | sexual dysfunction addictive behavior pornography social isolation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/19/6407 |
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