Assessment of Pornographic Addiction on the Psychological Wellbeing of Undergraduates Students: A Case of Daystar University, Kenya

Abstract

Pornographic addiction has increasingly emerged as a significant behavioral health concern among university students worldwide, adversely affecting their psychological wellbeing and academic performance. At Daystar University in Kenya, little empirical research has examined the extent and effects of this problem. This study therefore sought to investigate the prevalence of pornographic addiction and its relationship with psychological wellbeing among undergraduate students at Daystar University. The specific objectives were to determine the levels of addiction, assess anxiety and stress severity, identify key influencing factors, and analyze the correlation between pornographic addiction and psychological wellbeing. The research was guided by the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model and the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping, which explain how personal traits, emotional regulation, and coping mechanisms interact to influence addictive behaviors. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, targeting 1,098 students from the School of Applied Human Sciences. Using Yamane’s formula, a sample of 293 students was selected, and 264 valid responses were analyzed, yielding a response rate of 90.1%. Data were collected using structured questionnaires incorporating the Pornography Consumption Inventory (PCI) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly chi-square tests, to examine the relationship between pornographic addiction and psychological wellbeing. Findings showed that a large proportion of participants exhibited moderate to severe levels of pornographic addiction, indicating its growing prevalence among the university population. Males showed significantly higher addiction levels than females, while third-year students recorded the highest rates, suggesting that academic pressure and transitional challenges heighten susceptibility. Emotional avoidance was identified as the main reason for pornography consumption, followed by boredom, stress, and sexual curiosity. External influences such as unrestricted internet access, smartphone use, peer influence, and limited parental or spiritual guidance further contributed to addictive behavior. In terms of psychological wellbeing, most respondents reported moderate levels of distress, characterized by anxiety, social withdrawal, reduced self-esteem, and feelings of hopelessness. Chi-square analysis revealed a significant association between pornographic addiction and psychological wellbeing (χ² = 89.47, p = 0.000), demonstrating that higher addiction levels were linked with poorer wellbeing. Other significant correlations were found with demographic variables such as age, gender, academic year, and residence, with younger and off-campus students experiencing greater distress