Skip to main content
Log in

Sexual Media Use by Young Adults in Hong Kong: Prevalence and Associated Factors

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The prevalence of sexual media use, and factors associated with it, among Chinese young adults were studied in Hong Kong. Questions on use of sexual media were asked as part of a youth sexuality study conducted by the Family Planning Association in 1996. In a population-based cross-sectional study, 517 men and 447 women aged 18–27 years completed an anonymous structured self-administered questionnaire. The overall prevalence [95% confidence interval (CI)] of ever purchased or rented any type of sexual media was 57.8% (54.7–60.9). More men (70.2%; 95% CI: 66.3–74.2) than women (43.4%; 95% CI: 38.8–48.0) used sexual media. Of 31 independent variables tested by stepwise logistic regression, seven variables significantly predicted sexual media use: age (adjusted odds ratio OR = 1.5 for 21–24 and 1.8 for 25–28, versus 20 or below), male gender (OR = 3.0), number of sexual partner (OR = 2.2 for one and 2.8 for two or more partners), masturbation in the past week (OR = 3.2), being out of school (OR = 1.5), quarrel with family member in past 6 months (OR = 1.8), and religion (OR = 1.6 for no religion and 3.4 for traditional Chinese religion, versus Christians) (all adjusted OR:p < 0.05).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, M., D'Alessio, D., & Brezgel, K. (1995). A meta-analysis summarizing the effects of pornography. II: Aggression after exposure. Human Communication Research, 22, 258–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, M., D'Alessio, D., & Emmers-Sommer, T. M. (2000). Reaction of criminal sexual offenders to pornography: A meta-analytic summary. In M. Roloff (Ed.), Communication yearbook (Vol. 22, pp. 139–169). Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, M., Emmers, T., Gebhardt, L., Gebhardt, L., & Giery, M. A. (1995). Exposure to pornography, and acceptance of the rape myths. Journal of Communication, 45, 5–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alzate, H. (1978). Sexual behavior of Colombian female university students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 7, 43–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boeringer, S. B. (1994). Pornography, and sexual aggression: Associations of violent, and nonviolent depictions with rape, and rape proclivity. Deviant Behavior, 15, 289–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brannigan, A. (1997). The postmodern experiment: Science, and ontology in experimental social psychology. British Journal of Psychology, 48, 594–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D., & Bryant, J. (1989). Uses of pornography. In D. Zillmann & J. Bryant (Eds.), Pornography: Research advances, and policy considerations (pp. 3–24). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, D. W., & Chan, T. S. C. (1983). Reliability, validity, and the structure of the General Health Questionnaire in a Chinese context. Psychological Medicine, 13, 363–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, Y. J., Lee, W. H., Rha, K. H., Xin, Z. C., Choi, Y. D., & Choi, H. K. (2000). Masturbation, and its relationship to sexual activities of young males in Korean military service. Yonsei Medical Journal, 41, 205–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, M., & Dannemiller, J. E. (1989). Pornography, and community standards in Hawaii: Comparison with other states. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 18, 475–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, M., & Uchiyama, A. (1999). Pornography, rape, and sex crimes in Japan. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 22, 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, D. (1991). Pornography as a source of sex information for students at a private northeastern university. Psychological Reports, 68, 782.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, D., & Nicholsson, T. (1991). Pornography as a source of sex information for students at a southeastern state university. Psychological Reports, 68, 802.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felson, R. B. (1996). Mass media effects on violent behavior. Annual Review of Sociology, 22, 103–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, W. A., & Grenier, G. (1994). Violent pornography, antiwomen thoughts, and antiwomen acts: In search of reliable effect. Journal of Sex Research, 31, 23–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • General Household Survey. (1998). Special Topics Report No. 20. Hong Kong: Census, and Statistics Department.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, D. P. (1972). The detection of psychiatric illness by questionnaire. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Home Office. (1979). Committee on obscenity, and film censorship. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, M. (1974). Sexual behavior in the 1970s. Chicago: Playboy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutchinsky, B. (1985). Experiences with pornography, and prostitution in Denmark. In J. Kiedrowski & J. M. van Dikj (Eds.), Pornography, and prostitution in Denmark, France, West Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden (pp. 53–65). Copenhagen: Kriminalistisk Instituts Stencilserie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lam, T. H., Stewart, S. M., & Ho, L. M. (2001). Smoking, and high-risk sexual behavior among young adults in Hong Kong. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 24, 503–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, P. W. H., Lam, T. H., Ong, S. G., Wong, C. M., & Kleevens, J. W. L. (1985). A modified version of the General Health Questionnaire as a measure of occupational mental health in Hong Kong. Chinese Journal of Psychology, 26, 101–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Q. D., & Michael, R. (1996). Pornography as a source of sex information for college students in fraternities, and sororities. Journal of Health Education, 2, 165–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linz, D., & Malamuth, N. (1993). Pornography. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Log-On Data Corporation. (1996). White paper on issues to consider. Anaheim, CA: Author.

  • Malamuth, N. M. (1993). Pornography's impact on male adolescents. Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 4, 563–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malamuth, N. M., Addison, T., & Koss, M. (2000). Pornography, and sexual aggression: Are there reliable effects, and can we understand them? Annual Review of Sex Research, 11, 26–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malamuth, N. M., & McIlwraith, B. (1989). Fantasies, and exposure to sexually explicit magazines. Communication Research, 15, 753–771.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKay, H. B., & Dolff, D. J. (1985). The impact of pornography: An analysis of research, and summary of findings (Report 13, Working Papers on Pornography, and Prostitution). Ottawa, ON: Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meese, A. G. E. (1986). Attorney general (Edwin Meese) commission report. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nobile, P., & Nadler, E. (1986). United States of America vs. sex: How the Meese Commission lied about pornography. New York: Minotaur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Padgett, V., Brislin-Slutz, J., & Neal, J. (1989). Pornography, sexual media, and attitudes toward women: The effects of repeated exposure. Journal of Sex Research, 26, 479–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan, S. (1993). China: Acceptability, and effect of three kinds of sexual publication. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 22, 59–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D. E. H. (1988). Pornography, and rape: A causal model. Political Psychology, 9, 41–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D. E. H. (1998). Dangerous relationships: Pornography, misogyny, and rape. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. M., Rosenthal, D. A., & Reichler, H. (1996). High schoolers masturbatory practice: Their relationship to sexual intercourse, and personal characteristics. Psychological Reports, 79, 499–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trostle, L. (1993). Pornography as a source of sex information for university students: Some consistent findings. Psychological Reports, 72, 407–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyden, T., Olsson, S. E., & Haggstrom-Nordin, E. (2001). Improved use of contraceptives, attitudes towards pornography, and sexual harassment among female university students. Women's Health Issues, 11, 87–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zillmann, D. (2000). Influence of unrestrained access to pornography on adolescents', and young adults' dispositions toward sexuality. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27, 41–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zillmann, D., & Bryant, J. (1989). Pornography: Research advances, and policy considerations. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Consortia

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohsen Janghorbani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Janghorbani, M., Lam, T.H. & The Youth Sexuality Study Task Force. Sexual Media Use by Young Adults in Hong Kong: Prevalence and Associated Factors. Arch Sex Behav 32, 545–553 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026089511526

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026089511526

Navigation