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Research conducted by

Barna Group
Research commissioned by
Josh McDowell Ministry
January 19, 2016

The Porn Phenomenon

RESEARCH DESIGN

Who Was Surveyed in the Study?


All participants completed an online survey, and data is weighted to be nationally
representative. Conducted July and August 2015.
Audience

Definition

Sample Size

TEENS

13 17

303

YOUNG ADULTS

18 24

510

ADULTS

25 +

1,188

PASTORS

Senior Pastor

432

YOUTH PASTORS

Youth Pastor

338

Note: colors correspond to graphs throughout this report

The Porn Phenomenon

KEY FINDINGS

The Porn Phenomenon

PORN: WHAT IS IT AND WHY USE IT?

Porn: What Is It and Why Use It?


Porn is notoriously difficult to define.
For Americans, its more a question of function than form.
Function: for the purpose of arousal, masturbation
Form: images that depict sex, or sexual scenarios, or nudity that is sexually arousing
Most people do not believe full nudity or especially partial nudity qualify as porn.
There is a wide range of definitions across various segments of society.
People use porn for the obvious: arousal. But also for boredom, curiosity, and fun.
Younger adults and teens tend to use porn for boredom, curiosity and fun.
25-50-year-olds tend to use for getting sex tips or to set a mood with a partner.
Being less risky than actual sex is higher motivation among both teens and older
adultsfor different reasons, presumably.
Teens are sensitive to and affected by porn, especially compared to young adults.
One of the patterns in the data is that teens are not entirely sure what to do with or
make of porn, but those feelings of caution tend to dissipate among young adults.

Is that Porn?

Sexual intercourse is the most common defining factor for considering an image porn
sexual arousal also plays a large part in people viewing an image as porn.
a partially nude image

a fully nude image

a fully nude image that is sexually arousing

an image of a sexual act that is not intercourse

an image of sexual intercourse

96%
90%

87%

86%

95%

89%

87%
80%

79%

78%
69%

64%

63%
58%

57%

54%

53%

50%
39%
24%
10%

10%

TEENS

YOUNG ADULTS

Which of these things would you consider to be porn?

28%

25%

7%

ADULTS

YOUTH PASTORS

PASTORS

What is Definitely Porn?

Teens & Young Adults generally consider more types of images to be pornography,
compared to Adults.
sex scenes that make up most or all of a
video, with very little story

83%
70%

66%

still pictures of sexual acts

55%

61%

close-up still pictures of genitals

47%

fully nude show or dance

46%

fully nude still pictures

32%

26%

sex scenes described in a written story


(no pictures)

41%

30%

sex scenes that are a short part of a


broader story in a movie/video/TV

31%
23%
TEENS & YOUNG
ADULTS

84%

18%
14%

22%

chatting/texting about sexual acts with


someone you do not know personally
partially nude show or dance
partially nude still pictures

TEENS & YOUNG ADULTS

32%
11%
9%

ADULTS

What of these things would you definitely consider porn? Among those who currently use porn.

ADULTS

Why Use Porn?

For personal arousal, is the most common reason people use porn. Boredom is more
common among younger generations. Young Adults (18-24) also cite fun and sexual
expression, more than other generations.
80%

For personal arousal

70%

Boredom

60%

Curiosity
50%

Its just fun


40%

To get tips or ideas for my


own sex life
30%

Because its less risky than


actually having sex
20%

To express my sexuality
10%

To set the mood with a


girlfriend/boyfriend/partner
0%
Ages

13-17

Why do you use porn?

18-24

25-30

31-50

51-69

Why Use Porn?

10

The most common reason why people use porn is for personal arousal. Boredom is more
common among younger generations. Curiosity is also a common reason.

13-17

18-24

25-30

31-50

51-69

70+

For personal arousal

For personal arousal

For personal arousal

For personal arousal

For personal arousal

For personal arousal

Boredom

Boredom

Curiosity

To set the mood with a


girlfriend/boyfriend/partn
er

Its just fun

To set the mood with a


girlfriend/boyfriend/partn
er

Curiosity

Curiosity

To get tips or ideas for my


own sex life

Curiosity

Curiosity

Curiosity

Its just fun

Its just fun

Boredom

To get tips or ideas for my To get tips or ideas for my


own sex life
own sex life

Its just fun

To set the mood with a


Because its less risky than
To express my sexuality girlfriend/boyfriend/partn
actually having sex
er

To get tips or ideas for my Because its less risky than


own sex life
actually having sex

Its just fun

Boredom

Boredom

Its just fun

Boredom

To set the mood with a


To get tips or ideas for my
girlfriend/boyfriend/partn
own sex life
er

To set the mood with a


Because its less risky than To get tips or ideas for my Because its less risky than
To express my sexuality girlfriend/boyfriend/partn To express my sexuality
actually having sex
own sex life
actually having sex
er
To set the mood with a
Because its less risky than Because its less risky than
girlfriend/boyfriend/partn
To express my sexuality
actually having sex
actually having sex
er

Why do you use porn?

To express my sexuality

11

The Porn Phenomenon

MORALITY OF PORN

The Morality of Porn


One of the favorable realities uncovered by the research is the degree of
transparency respondents display on the topic.
Porn is a much more readily researchable topic than it was two decades
ago. Its a subject that does not have the same social taboo that it once did.

Big generational changes on whether porn is good or bad for society.


Adults over 50: believe its bad
31-49 and teens: split between bad or neutral
Young adults: most likely to believe its good
Only small minority of adults who use porn report much guilt about porn.
Teens are most likely age segment to experience feelings of guilt, although
its still a minority of teenagers.
Practicing Christians are twice as likely as others to experience guilt.

12

The Morality of Porn

13

Teens and young adults have encouraging or accepting conversations toward


porn.
When they talk about porn with friends, 89% of teens, and 95% of young adults
say they do so in an either neutral, accepting, or encouraging way.
Only one in 20 young adults and one in 10 teens say their friends think viewing
pornography is a bad thing.
Teens & young adults view not recycling as more immoral than viewing porn.
32% say viewing porn is "usually or always wrong" compared to 56% who say
not recycling is "usually or always wrong.
Only child porn and non-consensual sex are considered always wrong by a
large majority of Americans.
Less likely to be always wrong depictions of teens, painful or forced sex,
demeaning situations, same-sex scenarios, and more than two people at once.

Is Porn Good or Bad for Society?

14

Young Adults (18-24) are the least likely age group to say porn is bad for society

it is very bad for our society

13-17

18-24

27%

51-69

70+

it is neither good nor bad

16%

14%

it is somewhat good for our society

9%

48%

30%

21%

24%

14%

32%

20%

37%

It is very good for society

47%

17%

25-30

31-49

it is somewhat bad for our society

Overall, do you think that porn is a good or bad thing for our society?

4%

10%

22%

59%

8%

13%

44%

36%

22%

2%

2%

5%

19%

Feelings About Porn Use

15

Teens (13-17) are least comfortable with the amount of porn they use, compared to
other age groups. Middle-aged adults are the most comfortable with their use.
Comfort Level with Porn Use

I feel a sense of guilt when I use porn

52%
13-17

26%
22%
31%
68%

18-24

22%
10%
69%

25-30

31-50

19%
13%

10%

64%
12%
24%

I am comfortable
with how much
porn I use

I would rather
72% not use it as
much as I do, but
some is OK

18%

51-69

21%

13-17

18-24

14%

15%

17%

25-30

31-50

51-69

It really doesnt bother me to use it

50%

51%

54%

54%

13-17

18-24

25-30

31-50

I would rather
not use porn at
all

47%

51-69

The Guilt of Porn

16

Minorities, practicing Christians, and conservatives are significantly more likely to


experience a sense of guilt compared to others.

Demographic-Based Segmentations (Adults)


Faith

7%

Midwest

17%

South
17%

white

11%

all non-white

24%

Income

less than $50K

17%

Not Practicing Xian

29%
12%

Catholic

23%
11%

Protestant Mainline

18%

Protestant Non-Mainline

25%

other Christian

17%

$50K to $99K
$100K plus

Denomination

Race

West

Practicing Christian

Protestant

19%

28%

conservative

Politics

Region

Northeast

Belief-Based Segmentations (Adults)

8%

Do any of these apply to your personal experience with pornography?

moderate
liberal

25%
11%
13%

How Immoral Is Porn?


Teens & Young Adults consider not recycling more immoral than viewing porn.

Teens & Young Adults

Taking something that belongs to someone else


Having a romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse
Saying something that isnt true

R
A
N
K

Not recycling
Viewing pornographic images
Thinking negatively about someone with a different point of view

Reading erotic or pornographic content


Watching sexually explicit scenes on TV or in a movie
Wanting something that belongs to someone else
Overeating
Significant consumption of electricity or water

17

When Friends Talk about Porn, Context Is


More than half of teens and young adults talk about porn in a way that is completely
accepting. Only a small minority talk about it in a way that is disagreeable.

13%

Encouraging - we talk about pornography in a positive,


even lighthearted way; no one is ashamed of viewing it

17%

40%

Accepting - its just assumed we all look at porn


sometimes

43%

37%

Neutral - we dont really discuss the morality of it

Disagreeable - my friends think viewing pornography is


a bad thing

36%

11%
5%

When you and your friends talk about pornography, is it most often in a way thats disagreeable, neutral,
accepting, or encouraging?

13-17
18-24

18

Sexual Images That Are Always Wrong

19

Only child pornography, non-consensual, and painful sex are considered always wrong
by the majority of people.
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Depictions of children under the age of 12


Depictions of sexual acts that are not consensual (one or more of the people
did not agree to the act or to sharing it with others)
Sexual acts that may be forced or painful
13-17
18-24
25-30

Someone being depicted in a demeaning way

Depictions of teens

31-50
Sexual acts between two people of the same gender
51-69

Sexual acts involving more than two people at once

What sexual images that involve any of these things are considered always wrong? Among those who
currently use porn.

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

20

The Porn Phenomenon

PORN IN THE SCREEN AGE

Porn in the Screen Age


Pornography has gone almost completely digital.
Example: 71% of adults, 85% of teens and young adults who have viewed
pornography did so using online videos
Magazines, graphic novels, on-demand videos and cable or
rented/purchased DVDs are a very small part of the market.
Not only is porn more accessible in the digital context, but unsolicited porn
has increased as well.
Nearly half of young adults say they come across porn at least once a
weekeven when they arent seeking it out.
Nearly three-quarters of young adults (71%) and half of teens (50%) come
across what they consider to be porn at least once a month, whether they
are seeking it or not.

21

Porn in the Screen Age


While porn has typically been a mans domain, its usage among young women
seems to have become more common, perhaps due to digital access.
Teenage girls and young women are significantly more likely to actively seek
out porn than women over age 25. More than half of women 25 and under
ever seek out porn (56% versus 27% among women 25-plus) and one-third
seek it out at least monthly (33% versus just 12% among older men).
In contrast, among teen and young adult men, 81% ever seek it out and 67%
at least monthly. Among men ages 25-plus, the comps are 65% and 47%.

Most teens are sextingeither on the receiving or sending end of sexually


explicit images.
62% of teens and young adults have received a sexually explicit image and
41% have sent one (usually from/to their boy/girlfriend or friend).

22

Porn in the Screen Age


More than one quarter (27%) of young adults ages 25-30 first viewed
pornography before puberty.
This is significantly higher than the Gen X cohort, of which only 13% started
viewing porn before puberty, and the Boomers (6%). And while the research
does not prove causation, the increases may be related to digital exposure.

23

Avenues of Porn

24

The Internet is by far the most frequented avenue for viewing pornography.
90%
13-17

18-24

25-30

31-50

51-69

80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%

0%
videos online

online pictures

images in an app
(on cell phone or
tablet)

What are the ways that you normally view porn?

graphic novels

magazines

images sent via on-demand videos


rented or
text
on cable or
purchased DVDs
satellite

Personal Avenues of Porn

25

Younger generations are more likely to have viewed porn before puberty and on their
phones. Very few people actually pay for porn.
You mostly view pornography online
66%

You mostly view pornography on your phone


66%

64%

61%
50%

44%
35%
23%

16%
1%

13-17

18-24

25-30

31-50

51-69

27%
13%

I started viewing
pornography before puberty

I sometimes pay for porn

6%
25-30

31-50

51-69

5%

6%

5%

25-30

31-50

51-69

*65% adults say they mostly view porn at home while only 1% say they mostly view porn at work

Social Porn and Sexting

26

Two-thirds of Teens and Young Adults have received a sexually explicit image and 41%
have sent one, usually from/to their boy/girlfriend or friend.

Teens & Young Adults

Received a nude image?

Sent a nude image?

no
37%

yes
41%
no
59%

yes
63%

Who is receiving?

57%

69%

Male

Female

44%

13-17

Who is sending?
69%

18-24

Has anyone ever sent you a nude image, via text, email, social media, or app?
If yes, who sent it to you?

33%

51%

Male

Female

24%

47%

13-17

18-24

In Search of Porn

27

Teenage girls and young women are significantly more likely to actively seek out porn
than women over age 25.
Teens & Young Adults

Male

19%

Female 2%

32%

15%

16%
daily

16%

14%

23%
weekly

19%

44%

once or twice a month

less often

never

Adults

Male

Female

9%

1%5%

18%

6%

20%

19%

16%

daily

35%

73%

weekly

How often do you actively seek out porn?

once or twice a month

less often

never

28

The Porn Phenomenon

PORN AND PASTORS

Porn and Pastors


Like the general population, faith leaders are quite likely to admit being
exposed to porn that they didnt intend to find.
Most likely to have been exposed to porn on a website accidentally, a popup on a computer or tablet, or via an unsolicited email with sexual content.
Youth pastors are more likely than senior pastors to find sexual content via
social media like Twitter or Instagram.
Most pastors (57%) and youth pastors (64%) admit they have struggled with
porn, either currently or in the past.
Overall, 21% of youth pastors and 14% of pastors admit they currently
struggle with using porn.
About 12% of youth pastors and 5% of pastors say they are addicted to porn
87% of pastors who use porn feel a great sense of shame about it.
55% of pastors who use porn say they live in constant fear of being
discovered.

29

Porn and Pastors


The vast majority of faith leaders who struggle with porn say this has
significantly affected their ministry in a negative manner.
It is not clear why, but youth pastors are twice as likely as pastors to report
this kind of unfavorable impact.

There is a big difference of opinion between faith leaders and congregants


when it comes to the consequences for pastors who struggle with porn.
Only 8% of pastors think that a pastor should resign his/her position if s/he
is struggling with porn. Most pastors think s/he should deal with the
struggle through counseling or accountability.
In contrast, 41% of adult Christians think that pastors should be fired or
asked to resign if they are found to be using porn. Younger Christians are
more likely to take a lenient approach.

30

Pastors Coming Across Porn

31

The differences between what youth pastors and pastors come across is likely a
reflection of their age.
Youth Pastor

Pastor

came across a website where I found pornography, accidentally


75%

came across a website where I found pornography, accidentally


73%

received a solicitation via pop up ad on a computer or tablet


66%

received a solicitation via pop up ad on a computer or tablet


58%

received a solicitation via email

received a solicitation via email


56%

57%

went to a website where I knew I would find pornography


50%

went to a website where I knew I would find pornography


37%

flipped through adult TV channels or movies


46%

flipped through adult TV channels or movies


37%

searched for it on social media, like Instagram or Twitter


30%

obtained a magazine or other printed material


23%

obtained a magazine or other printed material


27%

received a solicitation via text/phone


17%

received a solicitation via text/phone


17%

searched for it on social media, like Instagram or Twitter


12%

none of these
5%

none of these
7%

Have you personally ever come across the following types of pornography, even if you did not respond or
engage with it?

Pastors Struggle with Porn

32

Just over one in five youth pastors currently struggles with using porn, and they use it at
least once a month. About 12% of youth pastors and 5% of pastors are addicted to porn.
Youth Pastor
yes, this is a current
struggle

YES

21%

yes, this was a struggle


in the past

Frequency

43%

no, I have not struggled


with this

36%

Pastor
yes, this is a current
struggle
yes, this was a struggle
in the past

43%

multiple times per


week
a few times per
month

44%

22%

19%

less often

19%

daily
multiple times per
week
a few times per
month

less often

not sure
23%
yes
56%

35%

every few months

every few months

no, I have not struggled


with this

0%

no
21%

Frequency

YES

14%

daily

Addicted?

Addicted?

1%

not sure
26%

15%
35%
26%
21%

Have you ever struggled in your own personal life with using pornography? How often do you/did you
actually use pornography? Would you say you are/were addicted to pornography?

no
41%

yes
33%

Porns Impact on Ministry

33

BASE: Pastors Who Currently Use Porn

The use of porn negatively impacted my ministry

very true

YOUTH PASTOR

PASTOR

somewhat true

not really true

44%

18%

not at all true

31%

46%

For these items, please rate them according to whether each is true of your personal experience using
pornography.

14%

27%

12%

9%

Church Leaders & Porn

34

Only 8% of pastors think that a pastor should resign his/her position if s/he is struggling
with porn. Most pastors think s/he should deal with the struggle through counseling or
accountability.
How much does the issue of porn interfere with your ability to find strong lay leaders in the church?
very

1%

somewhat

22%

not too

not at all

49%

29%

Which of the following do you think are usually a good idea when a pastor is struggling with porn?
find a professional counselor

82%

have a group of mature Christians who can hold him accountable

59%

tell the spouse (if married)

58%

find a counselor who is a pastor

45%

tell the elders/deacons/board at his church

21%

resign his position


tell the congregation

8%
1%

How much does the issue of porn interfere with your ability to find strong lay leaders in the church?
Which of the following do you think are usually a good idea when a pastor is struggling with porn?

If a Church Finds Out its Pastor is Using Porn

35

41% adult Christians think that pastors should be fired or asked to resign if they are
found to be using porn. Younger Christians are more likely to take a lenient approach.
he should be fired or asked to resign

41%

he should be asked to take a leave of absence until he is no longer using it

29%

he should be allowed to teach and be given the help he needs to deal with it

16%

nothing; no action should be taken by the church

5%

other

5%

he may remain on staff but no longer teach

4%

57%

Millennials (25-30)

Gen-Xers (31-50)

Boomers (51-69)

Elders (70 plus)

47%
35%
27%

32% 30%
23%

25%
20%

24%
13%
6%

11%

10%
4% 4% 5%

he should be fired or asked he should be asked to take a he should be allowed to nothing; no action should be
to resign
leave of absence until he is teach and be given the help
taken by the church
no longer using it
he needs to deal with it

What do you think should be done if a church finds out that its pastor is using pornography?

4% 4%
other

10%

7%
1%

2% 0%

he may remain on staff but


no longer teach

36

The Porn Phenomenon

PORN AND CHURCHES

Porn and Churches


The vast majority of the faith community, including leaders and laity, believe
pornography is a bigger problem in the Church than it was two decades ago.
93% of pastors and 94% of youth pastors say it is a much bigger or
somewhat bigger problem than it was in the past.

More than half of youth pastors have had at least one teen come to them for
help in dealing with porn in the past 12 months.
Although teens seeking help are mainly teen boys, there is still a significant
amount of teen girls seeking help from youth pastors.
Men of all ages and stages, but especially married men, are coming to pastors
for help with pornography struggles.
Despite the awareness of the problem, most churches do not have programs
specifically designed to assist those struggling with porn use.

37

Porn Compared to 20 years ago

38

The vast majority of the faith community, including leaders and laity, believe that
pornography is a bigger problem in the Church than it was two decades ago.

Pornography compared to 20 years ago, specifically for the "Church


a much bigger problem
Non-Practicing
Christian
Practicing Christian
Youth Pastor
Pastor

a somewhat bigger problem

23%

about the same smaller issue

34%

51%

33%

10%

24%

75%

70%

In your view, how does the issue of pornography compare to 20 years ago, specifically for the "Church" in
America?

23%

20%

6%

19%

6%

7% 1%

Teens Struggling in the Church

39

More than half of youth pastors have had at least one teen come to them for help in
dealing with porn in the past 12 months. Although teens seeking help are mainly boys,
there is still a significant amount of girls seeking help from youth pastors.
In the past 12 months, how many teens have come to you for help in dealing with porn?
50%
32%

1 to 5

9%

7%

3%

6 to 10

11 to 24

25+

Which types of youth have sought help in dealing with pornography?


92%
57%
23%

high school boys

middle school boys

high school girls

In the past 12 months, how many teens have come to you for help in dealing with porn?
Which types of youth have sought help in dealing with pornography?

10%

middle school girls

Adults Struggling in the Church


Men of all ages and stages, but especially married men, are coming to pastors for
help with pornography struggles.
Pastors: who has sought help in dealing with pornography from your congregation?

married men

59%

unmarried men

36%

teenage boys

33%

none of these

29%

married women

5%

unmarried women

5%

teenage girls

4%

40

Who Is Struggling in the Church?


Men of all ages and stages, but especially married men, are coming to pastors for
help with pornography struggles.
Pastors: sought help in dealing with porn from your congregation

married men

59%

single men

36%

teenage boys

33%

none of these

How Often Do Practicing Christians Actively Seek Out Porn

8%

6%

10%

21%

15%

15%

10%

29%

20%

daily

married women

5%

single women

5%

2% 5%
2%

teenage girls

4%

2%
3%

2% 11%

weekly

61%

6%

23%

42%

21%

43%

once or twice a month

87%

7%

15%

84%

81%

less often

never

Church Programs for Porn Use


Most churches do not have programs specifically designed to assist those struggling with
porn use.
Does your church currently run a program specifically designed to assist those struggling with porn?

yes

Adults:

9%

44%

yes,
7%

Pastors:
no,
93%

no

not sure
47%

42

43

The Porn Phenomenon

QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION

Questions about the research,


please contact:
David Kinnaman
President
dkinnaman@barna.org
Roxanne Stone
Editor in Chief
rstone@barna.org

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