Emotional Distress Linked to Compulsive Pornography Use, Indian Study Finds

Findings Point to the Need for Mental Health-Based Treatment Approaches

December 27, 2025

Over recent decades, pornography has become more available, affordable, and easier to access in private, especially through smartphones and the internet. However, a new study in India finds that people with higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress are more likely to report compulsive or problematic pornography use.

Those with compulsive, or problematic pornography use (PPU) had the strongest link with craving, followed by stress, anxiety and then depression, according to the study by Nimhans, titled “Indian adults problematic pornography use: psychological correlates and predictors.”

People who scored high on the pornography addiction scale were almost 80 percent more likely to report strong cravings, around 71 percent more likely to experience high stress, 70 percent more likely to report anxiety, and 58 percent more likely to report symptoms of depression.

PPU is when someone keeps watching pornography even when it causes distress or leads to problems in their relationships, mental health, or daily life. Globally, researchers have been debating whether PPU should be seen as a type of impulse control problem, where someone can’t resist urges, or as a behavioural addiction, which includes symptoms like cravings, needing more over time, and feeling bad when trying to stop. Currently, PPU falls under a larger category called Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder in international medical guidelines. But this study explored whether pornography use, on its own, needs separate attention because of its unique effects.

The study also found that people who had first seen pornography at an earlier age were more likely to report problematic use later in life. When the researchers analysed which factors most strongly predicted compulsive use, they found two that stood out clearly: people who watched pornography to cope with stress were 1.5 times more likely to report problematic use, and those with higher anxiety were 1.7 times more likely to struggle with it.

These findings suggest that for some, pornography becomes a way to manage uncomfortable emotions, but over time this can deepen emotional distress, especially when it leads to guilt, shame, or relationship conflict.

The researchers also point out that most of the existing studies on PPU come from Western countries. In India, open conversations about sex are rare, and topics like pornography are often surrounded by shame and moral judgment. This makes it harder for people to talk honestly about their experiences or to seek help when needed.

Cultural silence around sexual health also means that many Indian researchers rely heavily on Western studies, which may not fully apply in the Indian context. So, this study tried to fill that gap by looking specifically at Indian adults and how their experiences with pornography relate to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and stress.

The study was conducted through an online survey over 12 weeks in 2024. It was shared through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and Reddit. To be part of the study, participants had to be over 18 years old, live in India, and either currently face or have recently faced problems with their pornography use. In total, 112 people completed the survey. Most were men (81 percent), and the majority were young, with a median age of 25. About half were students, and most had at least an undergraduate degree. Most participants also identified as heterosexual.

The results suggest that mental health support for people struggling with pornography use should focus on anxiety, stress and emotional coping skills. Therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches could help individuals better manage their emotions.

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