Objectives: Online pornography is increasingly accessible to European teenagers due to the proliferation of mobile phone ownership. This raises concerns regarding the influence that pornography may have on adolescent sexual health behaviours. This study examines the association between pornography use and potential risk-taking sexual behaviour among adolescents in the West of Ireland.

Study design: This is a cross-sectional study design, comprising secondary data analysis of the third Planet Youth Survey in the West of Ireland carried out in November 2022 and based on the international Planet Youth Survey.

Methods: A cross sectional analysis was conducted using anonymised data from the third wave of the Planet Youth Survey (November 2022), involving 5277 adolescents aged 13-17 from all post-primary schools and Youthreach centres in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in Ireland. Exposure variables included recent pornography use, use of pornography as a sexual health information source, and reported pressure to view pornography. Outcome variables included engaging in condomless sex, sexual activity under the influence of alcohol or drugs (in the previous year) and very early initiation of sexual activity (<15 years). Data were analysed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression.

Results: Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported using pornography in the previous year, with a higher prevalence (51%) among males. Pornography use was significantly associated with engaging in condomless sex (aOR 3.38, 95% C.I. 2.60-4.43), sexual activity under the influence of alcohol/drugs (aOR 3.60, 95% C.I. 2.97-4.37) and very early sexual initiation (aOR 2.79, 95% C.I. 2.00-3.91). Higher levels of parental monitoring consistently conferred a protective effect across all three outcomes.

Conclusions: Pornography use is prevalent among adolescents in Ireland and is associated with risk-taking sexual behaviours. While causality cannot be inferred, these findings support the prioritisation of integrated, evidence-based sexual health strategies incorporating parental engagement, comprehensive school-based sexuality education and broader public health interventions to address risk-taking sexual behaviours among adolescents.