2014 Survey: How many Christians do you think watch porn?

LYNCHBURG, Va., Aug. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly two-thirds (64%) of American men look at pornography at least monthly. The rate for Christian men looking at porn is nearly identical. An estimated 21 million men either think they are addicted to porn or are unsure if they are addicted. Those and other numbers are documented in a new survey by Proven Men Ministries (www.ProvenMen.org) and conducted by Barna Group among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults nationwide.

The just-released survey also revealed:

• 8 out of 10 (79%) men between the ages of 18 and 30 view pornography at least monthly
• 2 out of 3 (67%) men between the ages of 31 and 49 view pornography at least monthly
• 1 in 2 (49%) men between the ages of 50 and 68 view pornography at least monthly 
• 1 in 3 (33%) men between the ages of 18 and 30 think they might be addicted to pornography or are unsure if they are addicted
• 2 out of 10 (18%) men of all ages think they might be addicted to pornography or are unsure if they are addicted

Viewing pornography is not limited to single men; over one-half (55%) of married men view pornography at least monthly. The survey also included statistics relating to income, education, and ethnicity, which are available at http://www.provenmen.org/2014pornsurvey/pornography-use-and-addiction. The survey also revealed numbers for women, such as 4 in 10 (42%) women between the ages of 18 and 30 view porn at least monthly.

"What we are seeing can almost be described as epidemic," according to Joel Hesch, who sponsored the survey and is the founder of Proven Men Ministries.

"Viewing pornography can quickly turn into a very real addiction. Just like drug or alcohol use, what starts off as a seemingly innocent or fun act can quickly spiral out of control," says Hesch. "If left unchecked, it will consume your time, energy, and resources. Once hooked, it's hard to break loose."

"Merely installing Internet blocks has not curbed the rise of pornography viewing," Hesch said. "Although still important, blocks don't address the underlying root issues driving people to look at pornography."

What can be done?

The good news is that Proven Men Ministries has developed a system to help men overcome pornography addiction, including a 12-week course of study, a leadership guide and a book on sexual integrity—all available on Amazon. Our website also has free resources.

"What we have found is that overcoming an addiction to pornography takes time and accountability. It's not simply a matter of recognizing that you have a problem. The greatest success for breaking and remaining free is working with a network partner or a group of men in your church or community for encouragement and accountability." To that end, Proven Men launched a pastor-specific outreach targeted toward bringing the Proven Men program into churches nationwide. For those who may not have access to a support group, Hesch created a guide for two men to use as they each work through our study.

Preliminary results from other parts of the survey suggest that the frequency of viewing of pornography is having a negative impact on work, marriages, and sexual behaviors. Those additional results are expected to be made public within the next few weeks.

*The media may cite to these findings by using the following citation:

2014 ProvenMen.org Pornography Addiction Survey (conducted by Barna Group).

The survey results are located at http://www.provenmen.org/2014pornsurvey/pornography-use-and-addiction.

Contact for Proven Men Ministries:
Joel Hesch, President and Founder
434.592.4251
[email protected]

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SOURCE Proven Men Ministries, Ltd.