Behind the Screen: The Risk Factors Driving Child Sexual Abuse Material Consumption

The fast development of the internet has made Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) increasingly accessible and shareable, creating a problem that exceeds law enforcement capabilities. This study investigates two psychological risk factors that contribute to escalated pornography use, a pattern that can increase vulnerability to consuming CSAM. More specifically, it examines the role of sensation seeking and self-control. The study was conducted through an online survey with male participants (N = 126) aged 18 to 30. After computing the total escalation score, the usable sample consisted of 56 participants. Participants completed scales measuring sexual sensation seeking, self-control and escalated pornography use. The results showed that sensation seeking and self-control did not independently predict escalation. However, an interaction was found, which suggests that the effect of sensation seeking on pornography escalation depends on an individual’s level of self-control. The results refine existing models of online sexual behaviour by emphasising the conditional nature of personality effects and the protective role of self-control.