2014 Survey: Guess the age when boys first view porn or have sex and where they learn about sex?

LYNCHBURG, Va., Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new survey shows that before being of driving age (16 years old), more than three-fourths (78%) of men have viewed pornography. With respect to men 18 to 30 years old, the numbers rise to 88% that have viewed porn before their sixteenth birthday. Only 3% of all men did not see pornography before turning 21 years old. Before turning 16, nearly a quarter (23%) of all men had sexual intercourse. In addition, the primary source of information about sex for men ages 18 to 23 is pornography (27%), followed by friends (24%), parents (20%) and television (16%). The same survey revealed that 4 in 10 (39%) men of this age group were uncomfortable talking to parents about sex while growing up. 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 ages of Christian men viewing porn (78%) or having sex (24%) before turning 16 years old is virtually the same as the national averages.

"The fact that boys are turning to pornography at early ages and it is their primary source of information regarding sex helps explain why so many men become addicted to porn," according to Joel Hesch, who sponsored the survey and is the founder of Proven Men Ministries.

The survey also shows that with girls are looking at porn at an early age. With respect to women between 18 and 30 years old, 1 in 4 viewed porn before turning 12 years old and 6 in 10 viewed porn before turning sweet sixteen. In addition, 15% of women in this age group said they had sex before turning 16 years old.

Hesch advocates that every parent install on their children's computers and cell phones a filter that blocks porn. His website provides other tips for protecting children from porn.

Hesch also adds, "The compulsion to watching porn doesn't just go away when you become an adult or get married. As also revealed in one of our new surveys, eight in ten (79%) men between 18 and 30 years old view pornography at least monthly and one-third (33%) think they are addicted or are unsure if they are addicted to porn. In addition, over one-half (55%) of married men view pornography at least monthly."

Proven Men Ministries has developed a 12-week system to help men overcome pornography or sexual 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 other free resources.

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

2014 ProvenMen.org Age Exposed to Porn and Age of First Sex Survey (conducted by Barna Group).

The survey results are located at www.ProvenMen.org/2014PornSurvey/Age-Exposed-to-Porn-Age-First-Sex

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

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SOURCE Proven Men Ministries, Ltd.