Pornography and Depression: What's the Connection?

Can porn cause depression? While they seem unrelated, research suggests there may be a concerning link between porn and depression, as well as a risk for addiction.

January 17, 2025 · 5 min · 1035 words · David Cole

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Causes the Connection?Porn’s Impact on DepressionWhat Are The Signs It Is Too Far and Too Much?Getting HelpWhat Does Treatment Look Like?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Causes the Connection?

Porn’s Impact on Depression

What Are The Signs It Is Too Far and Too Much?

Getting Help

What Does Treatment Look Like?

Close

Pornography is visual or printed material containing explicit displays of naked body parts conducting erotic actions such as sexual gestures or intercourse.

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects your mental state, and in most cases, brings your mood to a complete low, making you feel sad and hopeless.

While pornography and depression may not seem related, research suggests the two subjects may share more in common than you think.

In fact, a recent study indicates a significant relationship between mental health and pornography use, which included behaviors reflecting behavioral addictions, highlighting the potential contribution of internet pornography to negative mental health amongst several university students.

“Individuals do not turn to porn because they are depressed,” says Eddie Capparucci, PhD, LPC, CSAS ofAbundant Life Counseling. “They turn to porn to escape thenegative emotions that come from being depressed.” He adds that perhaps many individuals who wind up addicted to pornography have been dealing with alow-grade depressionmost of their lives.

A lack of learned practices to deal with pain and discomfort is something that Capparucci believes is a major issue for people that struggle with porn addiction. Porn, in a sense, is a means of escaping their distress.

Is porn, however, a good escape when depressed? According to Gabrielle Usatynski, LPC, atPower Couples Education, yes and no:

“Lowserotoninlevels areone of the key chemical imbalanceslinked to depression,” she says. She adds that having an orgasm can trigger the release of serotonin, “making you feel peaceful and relaxed. Orgasm also gives you a surge of dopamine, another key neurotransmitter that is in short supply with depression.”

“People get addicted to porn, but they also then develop a tolerance for it, just like they do for drugs, which leads to a consequent reduction in pleasure every time they use it,” Usatynski explains. “In other words, you need more and more dopamine, more and more stimulation, in order to produce that pleasurable result. This is why over time, watching porn can make your depression worse.”

Another reason pornography can lead to depression is related to the shame and guilt that some feel about this particular activity. This is often rooted in spiritual beliefs, especially with religions that view porn as a sin or a moral failure.

Perhaps it is your partner who finds your porn-viewing activity distressing, and it is causing strain in your relationship. Your partner may feel more self-conscious and worry they are not enough for you, This can sometimes impact the degree of intimacy and satisfaction between couples, and can even destroy relationships.

What Is Pornography Addiction?

Here are Capparucci’s defining actions that will help a person recognize when porn has negatively impacted their lives:

Is Pornography Destroying Your Marriage?

Soumya Choudhary, clinical neuropsychologist and head of research atBehavidence, believes acknowledging that there is a problem is always the first step—and thenfinding a therapistto suit this specific issue.

Using apps that track your digital behavior can also be a good way to take control of your porn addiction and self-manage your mental health:

What You Need to Know About Porn Addiction

Choudhary indicates that the treatment for porn addiction and depression or any other mental illness will always be customized, i.e., it will be client-centered and based on the symptoms and preferences of the client. Here are some available options:

You may also consider spiritual counseling with your pastor if your concerns are religious in nature.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and/or depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and/or depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

A Word From Verywell

If you’ve fallen into a porn addiction or sunken deeper into a depression, it’s important not to feel ashamed, embarrassed, or discouraged. The first milestone is recognizing you have a problem and are willing to seek help. Reach out to your support system, and get help from licensed health professionals who can walk with you each step of the way.

Is Watching Porn Bad for You?

1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Camilleri C, Perry JT, Sammut S.Compulsive internet pornography use and mental health: A cross-sectional study in a sample of university students in the United States.Front Psychol. 2021;11:613244. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.613244Additional ReadingHow to stop a pornography addiction and find recovery. Infinite Recovery.

1 Source

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Camilleri C, Perry JT, Sammut S.Compulsive internet pornography use and mental health: A cross-sectional study in a sample of university students in the United States.Front Psychol. 2021;11:613244. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.613244Additional ReadingHow to stop a pornography addiction and find recovery. Infinite Recovery.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Camilleri C, Perry JT, Sammut S.Compulsive internet pornography use and mental health: A cross-sectional study in a sample of university students in the United States.Front Psychol. 2021;11:613244. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.613244

How to stop a pornography addiction and find recovery. Infinite Recovery.

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