Perceived loneliness, problematic pornography use, and psychological distress in Ecuadorian university students: a correlational path analysis

Abstract

Introduction Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic vulnerability among university students, yet the behavioral correlates associated with psychological distress remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the statistical indirect association between perceived loneliness and psychological distress via problematic pornography use among Ecuadorian university students. Methods A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design was used with 273 students aged 18 to 29 years (M = 23.64, SD = 1.90) who reported habitual pornography use. Participants completed measures of perceived loneliness, problematic pornography use, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Spearman correlations, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis with 10,000 bootstrap resamples were conducted, controlling for age and sex. Results Perceived loneliness was positively associated with problematic pornography use and psychological distress, and problematic pornography use was positively associated with psychological distress. In the multivariate model, loneliness and problematic pornography use were independently associated with psychological distress, whereas age and sex did not show statistically significant unique associations. The statistical indirect association between perceived loneliness and psychological distress via problematic pornography use was significant. The direct association between loneliness and psychological distress remained significant after the intermediate variable was included. Discussion These findings suggest that problematic pornography use may represent a maladaptive behavioral correlate linking perceived social disconnection with broader emotional distress. The results also emphasize that pornography consumption should not be pathologized based on frequency alone; attention should instead focus on impaired control, functional interference, and the psychological function served by the behavior. University prevention and counseling initiatives may benefit from integrating loneliness reduction, emotion-regulation skills, social connectedness, and the non-stigmatizing assessment of problematic sexual behaviors.