Robert Tokunaga - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Robert Tokunaga

Research paper thumbnail of U.S. Parents Underestimate Their Children’s Pornography Use and Learning

Archives of Sexual Behavior, Oct 26, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography, Masturbation, and Relational Satisfaction

Journal of Sex Research, Oct 7, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of U.S. Adults’ Attitudes toward Gay Individuals’ Civil Liberties, Moral Judgments of Homosexuality, Support for Same-sex Marriage, and Pornography Consumption, Revisited

Journal of Sex Research, Nov 17, 2021

Approximately a decade ago, Wright and colleagues published three studies probing the nature of t... more Approximately a decade ago, Wright and colleagues published three studies probing the nature of the relationship between heterosexual U.S. adults' attitudes toward homosexuality and pornography consumption. Adopting an "effects" perspective (while acknowledging the nonexperimental nature of their data), they reasoned that pornography use could either lead to more antagonistic attitudes (by consumers viewing homosexuality through pornography's lens of traditional masculinity) or accepting attitudes (by consumers viewing homosexuality through pornography's lens of sexual liberalism). Results of all three studies aligned with the latter explanation. The present study evaluated whether the findings from these studies were replicable in the current U.S. sociocultural climate. No evidence of attitudinal reversal was found. Pornography use still directly predicted moral acceptance of homosexuality and support for same-sex marriage and indirectly predicted these outcomes via a more nontraditional attitude toward sex. Pornography use was neither directly nor indirectly related to attitudes toward civil liberties for gay persons in the more recent data, however. Additionally, contrary to the earlier findings, associations were unmoderated by education, sex, and ethnicity. Possible reasons for these discrepant results are discussed and the limitations to causal inference posed by correlational data are emphasized.

Research paper thumbnail of Perceived Similarity, Utility, and Social Realism as Potential Mediators of the Link between Pornography Use and Condomless Sex

Health Communication, Feb 14, 2022

One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography... more One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography is the near absence of condoms. A recent meta-analysis found that pornography use is associated with an increased likelihood of condomless sex, but the studies available for analysis rarely included measures of potential cognitive mediators underlying the association. Following the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization and the differential susceptibility to media effects model (DSMM), the present study examined whether linkages between pornography use and condomless sex are mediated by perceived similarity to actors in pornography and heightened perceptions of pornography's utility and social realism. Social realism and similarity mediated the association between pornography consumption frequency and condomless sex in simple mediation models, but only social realism remained significant in a parallel process model inclusive of all three mediators.

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography Consumption and Sexual Choking: An Evaluation of Theoretical Mechanisms

Health Communication, Oct 25, 2021

Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utilit... more Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utility in the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization. Studies have emphasized overall pornography/sexual behavior associations, however, rather than mediating sexual beliefs that a 3AM perspective suggests should underlie such associations. The present study used data from a campus-representative probability sample to examine whether linkages between pornography use and heterosexual-identified collegiate men's choking of sexual partners is mediated by the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked. Sexual choking has been increasingly identified as a focal point of contemporary mixed-sex pornography as well as young men's sexual behavior; it can also result in adverse health and legal consequences. Results were consistent with a sequential model positing that consuming pornography more frequently leads to more exposure to pornographic depictions of sexual choking, which in turn predicts a higher likelihood of choking sexual partners through the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked.

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography and religiosity: prediction and process

Human Communication Research, Feb 6, 2023

Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest t... more Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest to communication scholars. Drawing insights from the Reinforcing Spirals Model (RSM) and Sexual Script Acquisition, Activation, Application Model (3AM), this study examined whether (a) religiosity operated primarily as a predictor of later pornography consumption, which in turn predicted heightened sexual permissiveness, or (b) earlier pornography consumption predicted lower religiosity, which in turn predicted increased sexual permissiveness. Analyses of four subsamples from nationally representative three-wave panel data yielded some evidence for both pathways, but support for the latter pathway was more robust. These findings underscore the potential influence of media on attitudes through changes in ostensibly more stable characteristics such as religiosity, in addition to the direct attitudinal effects typically theorized in communication research. They also suggest several areas where the explanatory and predictive power of the RSM and/or 3AM might be enhanced through increased clarity, nuance, and scope.

Research paper thumbnail of On the Use of Control Variables in Pornography Effects Research: A Longitudinal Conceptual Replication

Health Communication, Aug 29, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of The Role of Emotion in Maladaptive Internet Use

Oxford University Press eBooks, Oct 4, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of But Do Porn Sites Get More Traffic than TikTok, OpenAI, and Zoom?

The Journal of Sex Research

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography and religiosity: prediction and process

Human Communication Research

Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest t... more Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest to communication scholars. Drawing insights from the Reinforcing Spirals Model (RSM) and Sexual Script Acquisition, Activation, Application Model (3AM), this study examined whether (a) religiosity operated primarily as a predictor of later pornography consumption, which in turn predicted heightened sexual permissiveness, or (b) earlier pornography consumption predicted lower religiosity, which in turn predicted increased sexual permissiveness. Analyses of four subsamples from nationally representative three-wave panel data yielded some evidence for both pathways, but support for the latter pathway was more robust. These findings underscore the potential influence of media on attitudes through changes in ostensibly more stable characteristics such as religiosity, in addition to the direct attitudinal effects typically theorized in communication research. They also suggest several areas whe...

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography, Masturbation, and Relational Satisfaction

The Journal of Sex Research

Research paper thumbnail of Perceived Similarity, Utility, and Social Realism as Potential Mediators of the Link between Pornography Use and Condomless Sex

Health Communication

One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography... more One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography is the near absence of condoms. A recent meta-analysis found that pornography use is associated with an increased likelihood of condomless sex, but the studies available for analysis rarely included measures of potential cognitive mediators underlying the association. Following the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization and the differential susceptibility to media effects model (DSMM), the present study examined whether linkages between pornography use and condomless sex are mediated by perceived similarity to actors in pornography and heightened perceptions of pornography's utility and social realism. Social realism and similarity mediated the association between pornography consumption frequency and condomless sex in simple mediation models, but only social realism remained significant in a parallel process model inclusive of all three mediators.

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography and Women’s Experience of Mixed-Gender Sexual Choking/Strangulation: Eroticization Mediates, Perceived Similarity Moderates

Journal of Health Communication

Research paper thumbnail of To Misspecify Is Common, to Probe Misspecification Scientific: Common “Confounds” in Pornography Research May Actually Be Predictors

Journal of Communication

The ills of modeling variables substantively involved in a causal process as “controls” have been... more The ills of modeling variables substantively involved in a causal process as “controls” have been discussed extensively by social scientists who do not study media. Until recently, Slater was one of the few communication scientists to suggest that media effects scholars engage in overcontrol. Bushman and Anderson have now echoed this concern in the context of a broader treatise on research trends in the media violence literature. The present study responded to Wright’s recent discussion of control variable usage in the pornography literature. Specifically, using a national probability sample of approximately 1,900 U.S. adults, the present study assessed whether multiple demographic variables routinely modeled as controls in the pornography effects literature may be better conceptualized as initiating predictors. Results were inconsistent with the confounding approach but consistent with the hypothesis that individual differences predict cognitive response states that increase or dec...

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography Consumption and Sexual Choking: An Evaluation of Theoretical Mechanisms

Health Communication, 2021

Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utilit... more Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utility in the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization. Studies have emphasized overall pornography/sexual behavior associations, however, rather than mediating sexual beliefs that a 3AM perspective suggests should underlie such associations. The present study used data from a campus-representative probability sample to examine whether linkages between pornography use and heterosexual-identified collegiate men's choking of sexual partners is mediated by the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked. Sexual choking has been increasingly identified as a focal point of contemporary mixed-sex pornography as well as young men's sexual behavior; it can also result in adverse health and legal consequences. Results were consistent with a sequential model positing that consuming pornography more frequently leads to more exposure to pornographic depictions of sexual choking, which in turn predicts a higher likelihood of choking sexual partners through the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked.

Research paper thumbnail of Engagement With Novel Virtual Environments: The Role of Perceived Novelty and Flow in the Development of the Deficient Self-Regulation of Internet Use and Media Habits

Human Communication Research, 2013

This article extends theory on the deficient self-regulation (DSR) of Internet use and media habi... more This article extends theory on the deficient self-regulation (DSR) of Internet use and media habits by integrating predictors relevant to technology use. It introduces novelty perceptions of a technology and flow as conditions that increase the likelihood of experiencing DSR and media habits. An experiment, with between-and within-subjects components, was undertaken to test whether the relationships of DSR hypothesized at various stages of technology use are substantiated. Results demonstrated that the perceived novelty of a technology initiated flow, which in turn predicted growth of DSR during initial engagement with virtual environments. Growth of DSR in familiar stages of technology use corresponded to the formation of media habits over time.

Research paper thumbnail of Interpersonal surveillance over social network sites

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2015

Surveillance has long been used as a way to guard against dangers lurking in one’s immediate envi... more Surveillance has long been used as a way to guard against dangers lurking in one’s immediate environment. Humans have carried over this evolutionarily adaptive solution to the maintenance of their interpersonal relationships. The landscape of relational surveillance has dramatically changed with the inception of Internet platforms, such as social networking sites. The goal of this investigation is to understand the motives of online surveillance in romantic relationships. Patterns of negative relational maintenance behaviors and the investment model were used to predict relational determinants of surveillance over social networking sites. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect data from college student and nonstudent adult populations. The results find that indicators of low-quality relationships, such as low satisfaction, are associated with online surveillance. Interpersonal surveillance over social networking sites is in turn related to larger amounts of time spe...

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption of Pornography, Perceived Peer Norms, and Condomless Sex

Health Communication, 2016

Sexual scripts in pornography rarely include condoms. Many U.S. college students consume pornogra... more Sexual scripts in pornography rarely include condoms. Many U.S. college students consume pornography and have unprotected sex. Yet no study appears to have investigated whether pornography consumption is correlated with having unprotected sex among U.S. college students. This article reports results from two studies of pornography consumption and condomless sex among U.S. college students. Pornography consumption was directly associated with a higher likelihood of condomless sex in study 1. This finding was replicated in study 2. Study 2 also explored whether perceptions of peers' use of condoms partially mediates the association between pornography consumption and condomless sex. Pornography consumption was associated with lower estimations of peers' condom use, and lower estimations of peers' condom use were associated with personally engaging in condomless sex.

Research paper thumbnail of A meta-analysis of the relationships between psychosocial problems and internet habits: Synthesizing internet addiction, problematic internet use, and deficient self-regulation research

Communication Monographs, 2017

Losses of self-control over Internet use, indicative of Internet habits, have caught the attentio... more Losses of self-control over Internet use, indicative of Internet habits, have caught the attention of the public for some time. A large collection of studies that theorize about and test the associations between psychosocial problems and Internet habits has been amassed over the last two decades. A meta-analytic review was used to determine the average correlations of Internet habits with loneliness and depression in existing research and explore several conditions under which these effects may vary. The cumulative correlations revealed that loneliness and depression were independently associated with Internet habits across the studies. Although the relationship between loneliness and Internet habits was stable across a number of different conditions, the depression-Internet habit association varied with age groups, year of publication, and sample types.

Research paper thumbnail of Building and Breaking Social Media Habits

Current Opinion in Psychology

Research paper thumbnail of U.S. Parents Underestimate Their Children’s Pornography Use and Learning

Archives of Sexual Behavior, Oct 26, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography, Masturbation, and Relational Satisfaction

Journal of Sex Research, Oct 7, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of U.S. Adults’ Attitudes toward Gay Individuals’ Civil Liberties, Moral Judgments of Homosexuality, Support for Same-sex Marriage, and Pornography Consumption, Revisited

Journal of Sex Research, Nov 17, 2021

Approximately a decade ago, Wright and colleagues published three studies probing the nature of t... more Approximately a decade ago, Wright and colleagues published three studies probing the nature of the relationship between heterosexual U.S. adults' attitudes toward homosexuality and pornography consumption. Adopting an "effects" perspective (while acknowledging the nonexperimental nature of their data), they reasoned that pornography use could either lead to more antagonistic attitudes (by consumers viewing homosexuality through pornography's lens of traditional masculinity) or accepting attitudes (by consumers viewing homosexuality through pornography's lens of sexual liberalism). Results of all three studies aligned with the latter explanation. The present study evaluated whether the findings from these studies were replicable in the current U.S. sociocultural climate. No evidence of attitudinal reversal was found. Pornography use still directly predicted moral acceptance of homosexuality and support for same-sex marriage and indirectly predicted these outcomes via a more nontraditional attitude toward sex. Pornography use was neither directly nor indirectly related to attitudes toward civil liberties for gay persons in the more recent data, however. Additionally, contrary to the earlier findings, associations were unmoderated by education, sex, and ethnicity. Possible reasons for these discrepant results are discussed and the limitations to causal inference posed by correlational data are emphasized.

Research paper thumbnail of Perceived Similarity, Utility, and Social Realism as Potential Mediators of the Link between Pornography Use and Condomless Sex

Health Communication, Feb 14, 2022

One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography... more One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography is the near absence of condoms. A recent meta-analysis found that pornography use is associated with an increased likelihood of condomless sex, but the studies available for analysis rarely included measures of potential cognitive mediators underlying the association. Following the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization and the differential susceptibility to media effects model (DSMM), the present study examined whether linkages between pornography use and condomless sex are mediated by perceived similarity to actors in pornography and heightened perceptions of pornography's utility and social realism. Social realism and similarity mediated the association between pornography consumption frequency and condomless sex in simple mediation models, but only social realism remained significant in a parallel process model inclusive of all three mediators.

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography Consumption and Sexual Choking: An Evaluation of Theoretical Mechanisms

Health Communication, Oct 25, 2021

Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utilit... more Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utility in the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization. Studies have emphasized overall pornography/sexual behavior associations, however, rather than mediating sexual beliefs that a 3AM perspective suggests should underlie such associations. The present study used data from a campus-representative probability sample to examine whether linkages between pornography use and heterosexual-identified collegiate men's choking of sexual partners is mediated by the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked. Sexual choking has been increasingly identified as a focal point of contemporary mixed-sex pornography as well as young men's sexual behavior; it can also result in adverse health and legal consequences. Results were consistent with a sequential model positing that consuming pornography more frequently leads to more exposure to pornographic depictions of sexual choking, which in turn predicts a higher likelihood of choking sexual partners through the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked.

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography and religiosity: prediction and process

Human Communication Research, Feb 6, 2023

Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest t... more Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest to communication scholars. Drawing insights from the Reinforcing Spirals Model (RSM) and Sexual Script Acquisition, Activation, Application Model (3AM), this study examined whether (a) religiosity operated primarily as a predictor of later pornography consumption, which in turn predicted heightened sexual permissiveness, or (b) earlier pornography consumption predicted lower religiosity, which in turn predicted increased sexual permissiveness. Analyses of four subsamples from nationally representative three-wave panel data yielded some evidence for both pathways, but support for the latter pathway was more robust. These findings underscore the potential influence of media on attitudes through changes in ostensibly more stable characteristics such as religiosity, in addition to the direct attitudinal effects typically theorized in communication research. They also suggest several areas where the explanatory and predictive power of the RSM and/or 3AM might be enhanced through increased clarity, nuance, and scope.

Research paper thumbnail of On the Use of Control Variables in Pornography Effects Research: A Longitudinal Conceptual Replication

Health Communication, Aug 29, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of The Role of Emotion in Maladaptive Internet Use

Oxford University Press eBooks, Oct 4, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of But Do Porn Sites Get More Traffic than TikTok, OpenAI, and Zoom?

The Journal of Sex Research

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography and religiosity: prediction and process

Human Communication Research

Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest t... more Sexual behavior and religious practice are fundamental social dynamics of longstanding interest to communication scholars. Drawing insights from the Reinforcing Spirals Model (RSM) and Sexual Script Acquisition, Activation, Application Model (3AM), this study examined whether (a) religiosity operated primarily as a predictor of later pornography consumption, which in turn predicted heightened sexual permissiveness, or (b) earlier pornography consumption predicted lower religiosity, which in turn predicted increased sexual permissiveness. Analyses of four subsamples from nationally representative three-wave panel data yielded some evidence for both pathways, but support for the latter pathway was more robust. These findings underscore the potential influence of media on attitudes through changes in ostensibly more stable characteristics such as religiosity, in addition to the direct attitudinal effects typically theorized in communication research. They also suggest several areas whe...

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography, Masturbation, and Relational Satisfaction

The Journal of Sex Research

Research paper thumbnail of Perceived Similarity, Utility, and Social Realism as Potential Mediators of the Link between Pornography Use and Condomless Sex

Health Communication

One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography... more One of the most consistent findings in content analyses of popular, commonly consumed pornography is the near absence of condoms. A recent meta-analysis found that pornography use is associated with an increased likelihood of condomless sex, but the studies available for analysis rarely included measures of potential cognitive mediators underlying the association. Following the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization and the differential susceptibility to media effects model (DSMM), the present study examined whether linkages between pornography use and condomless sex are mediated by perceived similarity to actors in pornography and heightened perceptions of pornography's utility and social realism. Social realism and similarity mediated the association between pornography consumption frequency and condomless sex in simple mediation models, but only social realism remained significant in a parallel process model inclusive of all three mediators.

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography and Women’s Experience of Mixed-Gender Sexual Choking/Strangulation: Eroticization Mediates, Perceived Similarity Moderates

Journal of Health Communication

Research paper thumbnail of To Misspecify Is Common, to Probe Misspecification Scientific: Common “Confounds” in Pornography Research May Actually Be Predictors

Journal of Communication

The ills of modeling variables substantively involved in a causal process as “controls” have been... more The ills of modeling variables substantively involved in a causal process as “controls” have been discussed extensively by social scientists who do not study media. Until recently, Slater was one of the few communication scientists to suggest that media effects scholars engage in overcontrol. Bushman and Anderson have now echoed this concern in the context of a broader treatise on research trends in the media violence literature. The present study responded to Wright’s recent discussion of control variable usage in the pornography literature. Specifically, using a national probability sample of approximately 1,900 U.S. adults, the present study assessed whether multiple demographic variables routinely modeled as controls in the pornography effects literature may be better conceptualized as initiating predictors. Results were inconsistent with the confounding approach but consistent with the hypothesis that individual differences predict cognitive response states that increase or dec...

Research paper thumbnail of Pornography Consumption and Sexual Choking: An Evaluation of Theoretical Mechanisms

Health Communication, 2021

Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utilit... more Many researchers interested In the socializing effects of pornography have found heuristic utility in the sexual script acquisition, activation, application model (3AM) of mediated sexual socialization. Studies have emphasized overall pornography/sexual behavior associations, however, rather than mediating sexual beliefs that a 3AM perspective suggests should underlie such associations. The present study used data from a campus-representative probability sample to examine whether linkages between pornography use and heterosexual-identified collegiate men's choking of sexual partners is mediated by the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked. Sexual choking has been increasingly identified as a focal point of contemporary mixed-sex pornography as well as young men's sexual behavior; it can also result in adverse health and legal consequences. Results were consistent with a sequential model positing that consuming pornography more frequently leads to more exposure to pornographic depictions of sexual choking, which in turn predicts a higher likelihood of choking sexual partners through the belief that sexual choking is pleasurable, the belief that sexual choking is safe, and the disbelief that sexual choking requires consent from the person being choked.

Research paper thumbnail of Engagement With Novel Virtual Environments: The Role of Perceived Novelty and Flow in the Development of the Deficient Self-Regulation of Internet Use and Media Habits

Human Communication Research, 2013

This article extends theory on the deficient self-regulation (DSR) of Internet use and media habi... more This article extends theory on the deficient self-regulation (DSR) of Internet use and media habits by integrating predictors relevant to technology use. It introduces novelty perceptions of a technology and flow as conditions that increase the likelihood of experiencing DSR and media habits. An experiment, with between-and within-subjects components, was undertaken to test whether the relationships of DSR hypothesized at various stages of technology use are substantiated. Results demonstrated that the perceived novelty of a technology initiated flow, which in turn predicted growth of DSR during initial engagement with virtual environments. Growth of DSR in familiar stages of technology use corresponded to the formation of media habits over time.

Research paper thumbnail of Interpersonal surveillance over social network sites

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2015

Surveillance has long been used as a way to guard against dangers lurking in one’s immediate envi... more Surveillance has long been used as a way to guard against dangers lurking in one’s immediate environment. Humans have carried over this evolutionarily adaptive solution to the maintenance of their interpersonal relationships. The landscape of relational surveillance has dramatically changed with the inception of Internet platforms, such as social networking sites. The goal of this investigation is to understand the motives of online surveillance in romantic relationships. Patterns of negative relational maintenance behaviors and the investment model were used to predict relational determinants of surveillance over social networking sites. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect data from college student and nonstudent adult populations. The results find that indicators of low-quality relationships, such as low satisfaction, are associated with online surveillance. Interpersonal surveillance over social networking sites is in turn related to larger amounts of time spe...

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption of Pornography, Perceived Peer Norms, and Condomless Sex

Health Communication, 2016

Sexual scripts in pornography rarely include condoms. Many U.S. college students consume pornogra... more Sexual scripts in pornography rarely include condoms. Many U.S. college students consume pornography and have unprotected sex. Yet no study appears to have investigated whether pornography consumption is correlated with having unprotected sex among U.S. college students. This article reports results from two studies of pornography consumption and condomless sex among U.S. college students. Pornography consumption was directly associated with a higher likelihood of condomless sex in study 1. This finding was replicated in study 2. Study 2 also explored whether perceptions of peers' use of condoms partially mediates the association between pornography consumption and condomless sex. Pornography consumption was associated with lower estimations of peers' condom use, and lower estimations of peers' condom use were associated with personally engaging in condomless sex.

Research paper thumbnail of A meta-analysis of the relationships between psychosocial problems and internet habits: Synthesizing internet addiction, problematic internet use, and deficient self-regulation research

Communication Monographs, 2017

Losses of self-control over Internet use, indicative of Internet habits, have caught the attentio... more Losses of self-control over Internet use, indicative of Internet habits, have caught the attention of the public for some time. A large collection of studies that theorize about and test the associations between psychosocial problems and Internet habits has been amassed over the last two decades. A meta-analytic review was used to determine the average correlations of Internet habits with loneliness and depression in existing research and explore several conditions under which these effects may vary. The cumulative correlations revealed that loneliness and depression were independently associated with Internet habits across the studies. Although the relationship between loneliness and Internet habits was stable across a number of different conditions, the depression-Internet habit association varied with age groups, year of publication, and sample types.

Research paper thumbnail of Building and Breaking Social Media Habits

Current Opinion in Psychology