Explicit Content Consumption, Dark Triad Personality Preference and Quality of Intimate Relationship among Early Adults

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between explicit content consumption, dark triad personality preference and quality of intimate relationship among early adults. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be a relationship between explicit content consumption, dark triad personality preference and quality of intimate relationship among early adults. It was also hypothesized that there is likely to be a relationship between demographic variables and quality of intimate relationship among early adults. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be gender differences in quality of intimate relationship among early adults. It was also hypothesized that there is likely to be a predictive role of explicit content consumption, dark triad personality preference for quality of intimate relationship among early adults. Cross-sectional research design was used. A sample of N=160, including females n= 80 and males n=80, aged 19-30, was collected from various regions, including Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi. The problematic pornography consumption scale (PPCS-18) (Bőthe et al., 2021), Short dark triad scale (SD3) (Jones & Paulhus, 2014) and Reality questionnaire (Miller & Tedder, 2011) were used for assessment. The results of Pearson product moment correlation showed that explicit content consumption is significantly positively correlated with dark triad personality preference and its subscales (Machiavellianism short term as well as long term and psychopathy long term as well as short term). Whereas, explicit content consumption is significantly negatively correlated with quality of intimate relationship. Moreover, dark triad personality preference with its subscales (psychopathy long term as well as short term and Machiavellianism short term) is significantly negatively correlated with quality of intimate relationship. Furthermore, age was significantly negatively correlated with the quality of intimate relationship whereas, gender and duration of relationship was significantly positively correlated with quality of intimate relationship. The results of independent sample t-test showed gender differences in quality of intimate relationship and the results of hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that duration of relationship is a significant and positive predictor of quality of intimate relationship. Whereas, age, explicit content consumption and psychopathy short term were significant and negative predictors of quality of intimate relationship. The findings of the current study have practical implications and recommendations which can be advantageous to relationship therapists determining factors influencing atypical partner preferences and for entertainment industry to reconsider their portrayal of characters with dark triad personality traits.