Groundbreaking Pornography Study Reveals Shocking Trends Surrounding Smut Addiction and Guilt

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The majority of Americans who are addicted to pornography and frequently use sexual material for self-gratification are less likely to feel guilty or be uncomfortable with their addiction than those who use it less frequently, according to a shocking study that was published in its entirety this week.

That study, titled, "The Porn Phenomenon" and commissioned by evangelist Josh McDowell, found that 89 percent of daily pornography users are comfortable with their use of porn. This is compared to 77 percent of weekly users and 70 percent of once-or-twice-a-month users who said the same.

Only three percent of daily users said they wished they no longer used pornography, while just 7 percent of monthly users and 12 percent of once-or-twice-a-month users concurred.

Josh McDowell Ministry/Barna Group

"If you use porn often, you're more likely to feel OK about it," the study said. "If you use porn less often, you're more likely to feel uncomfortable with it."

When broken down into age groups, those between 13-17 years of age were found to be the least comfortable with their pornography consumption. Still, 52 percent of young teens said they felt their pornography use was OK. Only 31 percent of young teens said they felt guilty about using pornography.

Adults were found to be much more accepting of their pornography addictions, according to the study. By no surprise, they were also found to have the least amount of guilt about using pornography.

However, it was found that — with the exception of young teens — the younger the pornography user, the less guilty a user felt. Adversely, the older the pornography user, the more likely they were to feel guilty or be uncomfortable about using pornography.

Practicing Christians, on the other hand, were found to be nearly half as likely to be comfortable with their pornography consumption than non-Christians. Only 39 percent said they were comfortable with their level of porn consumption, while 73 percent of non-Christians said the same. Sixty-one percent of practicing Christians said they wished they used less porn — or none at all — compared to just 27 percent of all others.

The comprehensive study, which was conducted by The Barna Group, was riddled with shocking new information about pornography use and addiction.

Among other harrowing results revealed by the study, it was found that nearly half of young adults, especially millennials, actively seek out pornographic material on a weekly or more frequent basis.

The study also found that approximately one-in-five (21 percent) American youth pastors and up to 14 percent of American senior pastors actively struggle with pornography use.

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

The study, which has been dubbed "the most comprehensive, in-depth and wide-ranging study to date on pornography among the American population," was conducted through four online surveys that were designed to represent the general American population. Nearly 3,000 people participated in the study.

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