Porn Use and Sexting in Health Science Students: A Transversal Descriptive Study

Pornography consumption among young people through smart devices, along with the practice of sexting, is on the rise. However, it is not known exactly how these variables relate to the sexual education received by this population. This study analyses pornography consumption patterns and the relationship between pornography, sexting, and affective-sexual education in Health Sciences university students. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and analytical study was carried out with data collected from 311 students from the Faculty of Health Sciences of a regional campus of a Spanish public university. The following questionnaires were collected through an online platform: Survey on pornography consumption among university students and Sexting Behaviour Scale. The average age of the first contact with pornography is 14.5 years old. Men are greater pornography consumers than women, and this consumption occurs online with the purpose of stimulating masturbation. Sexting is a practice carried out by the majority of those surveyed, with women receiving most of this type of messages and men being the main senders. Although more than half of the sample had received affective-sexual education, it was found to be deficient, as it did not meet the desired expectations. There is a noticeable relationship between the male gender and pornography consumption, with men being the largest consumers. People who consume pornography more frequently also show greater use of sexting. In view of these data, it is very relevant to implement and evaluate comprehensive sexuality education programs adapted to the needs of the population.