University of Malta students’ attitudes towards pornography

Abstract

The focus of this study is to gain a better understanding of University of Malta students’ attitudes towards pornography, and to uncover variables which play a role in shaping these attitudes. Important variables were gender, religious beliefs, and porn consumption. The sample was made up of 97 participants (n=97; 43 males, 53 females) who currently attended the University of Malta. The correlations between age and attitudes towards pornography, religious beliefs and attitudes towards pornography, and pornography consumption and attitudes towards pornography were tested, while gender differences in attitudes towards pornography were also tested. The secondary hypotheses were also tested – these were; whether males watched pornography more often than females, whether women viewed pornography in a relationship more negatively, and whether the majority believe that pornography should not be censored. The results of this study show significant gender differences in attitudes towards pornography, and significant correlations between religious beliefs and attitudes towards pornography and pornography consumption and attitudes towards pornography. It was also found that males watch pornography more often than females, and that the majority believe pornography should not be censored.