People who want to change their pornography use need guidance: Which difficulties deserve attention, and what support might help? Two new studies explore these questions from different perspectives. One examines adolescents, the other adults. The findings from the adolescent study cannot be directly applied to adults.
The Swedish study, published in Archives of Sexual Behavior on 8 October 2026, analysed responses from 3,106 adolescents aged 16 to 19. Overall, 10.4% reported difficulties refraining from pornography or stopping their use. The figure was 18.8% among boys and 3.9% among girls. This classification was based on self-reported answers to two questions, rather than clinical diagnoses. [1]
Adolescents who reported these control difficulties also reported greater psychological distress and more difficulty managing their emotions. The data, collected between December 2019 and March 2021, show associations. They do not establish that pornography use caused these difficulties or which came first. [1]
On problematic pornography use (PPU), Linda S. Jonsson and her co-authors write: “Providing brief, destigmatizing information about PPU may help adolescents identify difficulties earlier and seek support.” [1]
Clinical assessment considers persistent difficulties controlling the behaviour, together with significant distress or impairment in everyday life. This may include repeated unsuccessful attempts to reduce the behaviour. Frequent use alone does not establish a mental disorder. Distress arising solely from moral disapproval is also insufficient for a diagnosis of compulsive sexual behaviour disorder. A 2024 sexual medicine review explains these distinctions with reference to the ICD-11 criteria. [3]
A research team in South Korea investigated one possible approach to support. Its pilot study, published in Current Psychology on 2 October 2026, involved 100 adults at elevated risk of compulsive sexual behaviour. Following random allocation, 52 participants received a four-week programme delivered through a messaging app, while 48 formed the waiting-list group. The programme combined psychological information, self-compassion exercises and individual feedback. [2]
Compared with the waiting-list group, participants showed improvements in self-compassion and certain aspects of emotion regulation. However, there was no demonstrable additional benefit in the severity of compulsive sexual behaviour or the daily duration of sexual activities: both measures declined in both groups. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to establish whether the approach supports lasting behavioural change. The study examined compulsive sexual behaviour in general, rather than pornography use alone. [2]
Self-compassion means responding to personal difficulties with understanding. In the context of trying to change a behaviour, this might mean: “I recognise that change is difficult for me. I want to understand what happened and what next step I could try.”
PornLess is for adults who want to reflect on their pornography use, reduce it or take a deliberate break. Information and personal choice are central to this approach. These studies offer ideas for that process; they did not investigate the effectiveness of the programmes offered by PornLess or its German sister platform, PornoPause.
People experiencing persistent difficulties controlling their behaviour or significant distress can seek psychotherapeutic or sexual medicine support. Advice is also available for those who are still unsure how to understand their own pornography use.
Sources and further reading
Image source: Marie Cederschiöld högskola – press photo of Linda Jonsson.
