Mental Health and Gender Comparison in Compulsive and Non-Compulsive Internet Pornography Use among University Students in Malaysia

This research aimed to compare mental health status and gender differences between compulsive and non-compulsive internet pornography users, as well as to examine gender disparities in internet pornography consumption among Malaysian university students. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, data were collected via an online questionnaire, which included demographic information, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, and the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale-18. A total of 102 participants (25 males, 77 females) were recruited through snowball sampling, with 12% showing compulsive pornography consumption. Results indicated no significant differences in depression, anxiety, or stress levels between compulsive and non-compulsive users. However, a notable difference in internet pornography use was observed between male and female participants (p < 0.05). In conclusion, while gender differences were evident in pornography use, there were no significant gender-based differences in mental health status, nor were there mental health disparities between compulsive and non-compulsive users among university students in Malaysia.