Men
A significant relationship between the frequency of hentai pornography use and sexually aggressive behavior was found (
B = 0.40,
SE = 0.15, 95% CI [0.111, 0.699]). After controlling for the mediator, rape myths endorsement, the direct effect of the frequency of hentai use on sexually aggressive behavior was no longer significant (
B = 0.17,
SE = 0.13, 95% CI [−0.089, 0.428]). The mediation analysis was statistically significant (
B = 0.24,
SE = 0.10, 95% CI [0.072, 0.452]), and accounts for a full mediation. The percentage of explained variance of the model was 25% (
R2 = .25).
Regarding the intensity of hentai pornography use, it was not a statistically significant predictor of sexually aggressive strategies (
B = 0.04,
SE = 0.13, 95% CI [−0.226, 0.298]). However, the intensity of hentai use was a predictor of rape myth endorsement (
B = 3.51,
SE = 1.73, 95% CI [0.114, 6.908]), which in turn successfully predicted sexually aggressive strategies (
B = 0.04,
SE = 0.003, 95% CI [0.031, 0.043]). An indirect effect was found between hentai pornography use and sexually aggressive strategies when inserting rape myths endorsement as a mediator (
B = 0.13,
SE = 0.08, 95% CI [0.004, 0.295]). The percentage of explained variance of the model was 23% (
R2 = .23).
Women
The frequency of hentai pornography use significantly predicted sexually aggressive behavior (
B = 0.45; SE = 0.18, 95% CI [0.086, 0.809]). After controlling for rape myths endorsement, the direct effect of the frequency of hentai use on sexually aggressive behavior was no longer significant (
B = 0.17,
SE = 0.15, 95% CI [−0.127, 0.463]). The indirect effect, using rape myths endorsement as a mediator, was statistically significant (
B = 0.28,
SE = 0.18, 95% CI [0.004, 0.714]), and signified a full mediation. The percentage of explained variance of the model was 37% (
R2 = .37).
The intensity of hentai pornography use was not a statistically significant predictor of sexually aggressive strategies (
B = 0.07,
SE = 0.14, 95% CI [−0.200, 0.347]) nor rape myth endorsement (
B = 1.47,
SE = 1.26, 95% CI [−1.011, 3.955]), which precludes a mediation relationship.
See
Table 3 for the non-standardized regression coefficients, and lower and upper limits of the 95% CI, for the direct, indirect, and total effects, in male and female participants.
Table 3. Non-Standardized Regression Coefficients, and Lower and Upper Limits of the 95% CI for Male and Female Participants That Use Hentai Pornography.
| Gender | B | SE B | 95% CI |
|---|
| Male | | | |
| Frequency | | | |
| a | 6.08 | 1.90 | [2.349, 9.803] |
| b | 0.04 | 0.003 | [0.032, 0.045] |
| c′ | 0.17 | 0.15 | [−0.127, 0.463] |
| c | 0.40 | 0.15 | [0.111, 0.699] |
| ab | 0.24 | 0.05 | [0.072, 0.452] |
| Intensity | | | |
| a | 3.51 | 1.73 | [0.114, 6.908] |
| b | 0.04 | 0.003 | [0.032, 0.045] |
| c′ | −0.09 | 0.12 | [−0.325, 0.137] |
| c | 0.04 | 0.13 | [−0.226, 0.298] |
| ab | 0.13 | 0.08 | [0.005, 0.295] |
| Female | | | |
| Frequency | | | |
| a | 4.26 | 1.66 | [0.992, 7.524] |
| b | 0.07 | 0.01 | [0.055, 0.076] |
| c′ | 0.17 | 0.13 | [−0.089, 0.428] |
| c | 0.45 | 0.18 | [0.086, 0.809] |
| ab | 0.28 | 0.18 | [0.004, 0.714] |
| Intensity | | | |
| a | 1.47 | 1.26 | [−1.011, 3.955] |
| b | 0.06 | 0.005 | [0.055, 0.074] |
| c′ | −0.02 | 0.11 | [−0.244, 0.202] |
| c | 0.07 | 0.14 | [−0.199, 0.347] |
| ab | 0.07 | 0.06 | [−0.057, 0.292] |
Note. a = direct effect hentai pornography use—rape myths endorsement; b = direct effect rape myths endorsement—sexually aggressive behavior; c′ = hentai pornography—use sexually aggressive behavior; c = total effect; ab = indirect effect/mediation model.
Human Pornography
Bivariate correlations were conducted to establish associations between the frequency and intensity of human pornography use, belief in rape myths, and sexually aggressive behaviors. See
Table 4 for the correlation results in male and female participants.
Table 4. Pearson Coefficient for Correlations Between Variables of Interest in Human Pornography.
| Gender | | Frequency | Intensity | SABS | ECVS |
|---|
| Male | Frequency | - | −.026 | .047 | .074 |
| | Intensity | −.026 | - | .015 | .013 |
| | SABS | .047 | .015 | - | .481** |
| | ECVS | .074 | .013 | .481** | - |
| Female | Frequency | - | .115** | .109** | .149** |
| | Intensity | .115** | - | .040 | .011 |
| | SABS | .109** | .040 | - | .487** |
| | ECVS | .149* | .011 | .487** | - |
Note. ECVS = Scale of Beliefs About Sexual Violence; SABS = Sexually Aggressive Behaviors Scale.
*
Correlation is significant at the .05 level (two-tailed). **Correlation is significant at the .01 level (two-tailed).
Men
No significant relationship was found between the frequency of human pornography use and sexually aggressive behavior (
B = 0.15,
SE = 0.12, 95% CI [−0.090, 0.399]), nor between the frequency of human pornography use and endorsement of rape myths (
B = 3.14,
SE = 1.62, 95% CI [−0.045, 6.327]), thus mediation was not possible.
Regarding the intensity of human pornography use, it didn’t predict the report of sexually aggressive strategies (
B = 0.04,
SE = 0.11, 95% CI [−0.171, 0.259]). Additionally, there wasn’t an indirect effect between human pornography use and sexually aggressive strategies when inserting rape myths endorsement as a mediator (
B = 0.02,
SE = 0.05, 95% CI [−0.080, 0.135]).
Women
The frequency of human pornography use significantly predicted sexually aggressive behavior (
B = 0.29;
SE = 0.11, 95% CI [0.078, 0.499]). After controlling for rape myths endorsement, the direct effect of the frequency of human pornography use on sexually aggressive behavior was no longer significant (
B = 0.09,
SE = 0.09, 95% CI [−0.091, 0.280]). The indirect effect, using rape myths endorsement as a mediator, was statistically significant (
B = 0.19,
SE = 0.11, 95% CI [0.034, 0.445]), and signified full mediation. The percentage of explained variance of the model was 1.2% (
R2 = .012).
The intensity of human pornography use was not a statistically significant predictor of sexually aggressive strategies (
B = 0.09,
SE = 0.09, 95% CI [−0.082, 0.256]). Additionally, the indirect effect was not statistically significant (B = 0.12,
SE = 0.04, 95% CI [−0.064, 0.112]).
See
Table 5 for the non-standardized regression coefficients, and lower and upper limits of the 95% CI, for the direct, indirect, and total effects, in male and female participants.
Table 5. Non-Standardized Regression Coefficients, and Lower and Upper Limits of the 95% CI for Male and Female Participants That Use Human Pornography.
| Gender | B | SE B | 95% CI |
|---|
| Male | | | |
| Frequency | | | |
| a | 3.14 | 1.62 | [−0.045, 6.327] |
| b | 0.04 | 0.003 | [0.032, 0.042] |
| c′ | 0.04 | 0.11 | [−0.176, 0.252] |
| c | 0.15 | 0.12 | [−0.090, 0.399] |
| ab | 0.12 | 0.06 | [0.007, 0.258] |
| Intensity | | | |
| a | 0.51 | 1.44 | [−2.314, 3.328] |
| b | 0.04 | 0.003 | [0.032, 0.042] |
| c′ | 0.03 | 0.10 | [−0.163, 0.213] |
| c | 0.04 | 0.11 | [−0.171, 0.259] |
| ab | 0.01 | 0.04 | [−0.080, 0.135] |
| Female | | | |
| Frequency | | | |
| a | 3.88 | 1.05 | [1.813, 5.938] |
| b | 0.05 | 0.004 | [0.043, 0.057] |
| c′ | 0.09 | 0.09 | [−0.091, 0.280] |
| c | 0.29 | 0.11 | [0.078, 0.499] |
| ab | 0.19 | 0.11 | [0.033, 0.445] |
| Intensity | | | |
| a | 0.23 | 0.85 | [−1.433, 1.898] |
| b | 0.05 | 0.004 | [0.043, 0.057] |
| c′ | 0.08 | 0.07 | [−0.072, 0.222] |
| c | 0.09 | 0.09 | [−0.082, 0.256] |
| ab | 0.01 | 0.04 | [−0.064, 0.112] |
Note. a = direct effect human pornography use—rape myths endorsement; b = direct effect rape myths endorsement—sexually aggressive behavior; c′ = human pornography—use sexually aggressive behavior; c = total effect; ab = indirect effect/mediation model.