The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that median consumption rates of porn are at 74.5% among men, and 58% among women. Meanwhile, a recent study finds that 11% of men, and 3% of women, identify as porn addicts. An addiction to pornography is loosely defined as such:
“A behavioral disorder where sufferers struggle with excessive and problematic viewing of graphic, sexually-explicit material. Porn stops being something they watch purely for entertainment and starts consuming their thoughts at all times.”
Kindbridge
Self-reporting aside, experts suggest that the prevalence of porn addiction in the general population is more likely in the 3-6% range. although it is difficult to provide precise data as there is no formal definition of the disorder. Anyone looking for information on the signs and symptoms of porn addiction can view the list here. The intent and purpose of today’s article, however, is to look at the potential connection between porn addition and elite athletes.
There have been a fair share of high-profile news stories over the years about celebrated athletes coming forward about their complicated relationship with pornography. This list includes gold medal Olympians and one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history. Meanwhile, NBA star Lamar Odom had the most publicized story about porn addiction in athletes. Fears regarding consequences of porn addiction are far reaching in professional sports. In the MLB, the Kansas City Royals once took a stance against its players watching pornography.
Should elite athletes be more cautious, or are they just like the rest of the population when it comes to pornography? Should the question instead surround the potential for greater consequences on the court, track, track, field, and to their livelihood as a whole? While more research needs to be done, these are certainly good questions to explore more, which we do below.
Why Elite Athletes Should Be Cautious in Regards to Their Relationship with Online Pornography
Personality Traits May Align with Problematic Porn Consumption
There are certain personality traits that elite athletes have that could present porn consumption problems. For one, studies have found successful athletes to exhibit high-levels of impulsivity and risk-taking. Research has shown a link between these traits and male internet-pornography-use disorder.
Chasing the Feel Good Chemical
Studies show elite athletes become “addicted” to the feelings associated with high levels of dopamine, which is the “feel good” chemical in the brain that is released during participation in certain activities. Chasing this chemical reaction becomes complicated for athletes as they seek to sustain the high, or suffer the mental health consequences.
“Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which increases our drive, motivation and focus. Elite athletes often have heightened levels of Dopamine due to diet and extensive training regimes. However, outside sport, when these levels are reduced it can cause depression, fatigue and procrastination.”
Danny Crouch, Mindset Coach
In order to sustain the dopamine release when away from the court, track, and field, athletes often look towards other activities that provide for a similar chemical reaction in the brain. There are a number of online activities that produce a similar reaction such as gambling and you guessed it – watching porn. The physical act of masturbation that generally accompanies porn consumption also causes the body to release hormones, dopamine included, which doubles down on the need to keep the good feelings going. More concerning, is that over time, the brain and body become accustomed to this psychological and physiological response of watching porn. Consequently, consumption needs to increase in order to sustain the same relative responses. From here, habitual behavior is formed which is self-reported as “porn addiction”.
Impact on Physical Performance
The adage of “no sex before the game” is pretty much a myth, as there is insufficient evidence to support claims that it has a specific detrimental effect on the sports performance. Theoretically, having an orgasm due to masturbating while consuming porn should not directly impact an athlete’s ability to compete at optimal levels. However, when porn consumption becomes excessive, there are indirect issues that could have a negative impact on physical performance. Studies on problematic online pornography use (POPU) have found a relationship between POPU and increased symptoms of insomnia. Poor sleep does indeed impact athletic performance.
Impact on Cognitive Performance
While direct physical impacts on athletics are limited, there are mental health issues associated with porn addiction that can impact cognitive performance. Studies confirm that stress, anxiety, and depression are strongly related to pornography consumption. All three (stress, anxiety, and depression) are known to impact both cognitive and physical prowess in athletes.
What You Can Do Today
If you’re an athlete with a problematic relationship with porn, we encourage you to seek out help as soon as possible. There are a variety of online treatments and therapies available to you today. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is often used to uncover any underlying emotional and psychological reasons for the addiction. Porn addiction is also known to co-occur with other behavioral health disorders that can be addressed during your initial consultation and follow-up sessions. You can learn more about our private and discrete porn addiction therapy services here, or get in touch today to book a consultation.
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