Caroline Beidler, MSW is an author, speaker, and the Managing Editor of Recovery.com. She writes about topics related to addiction, mental health, and trauma recovery, informed by her personal experience and professional expertise.
Caroline Beidler, MSW is an author, speaker, and the Managing Editor of Recovery.com. She writes about topics related to addiction, mental health, and trauma recovery, informed by her personal experience and professional expertise.
When viewing porn becomes compulsive, secretive, or begins to interfere with daily life, it may be time to ask a deeper question: Is this a habit or something more?
The porn addiction test is a self-assessment tool designed to help you reflect on your pornography use and whether it shows signs of a potential behavioral addiction. Based on research and tools like the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST), this quiz offers a starting point for clarity, not judgment.
Disclaimer: This tool is not a diagnosis. It is a screening tool meant to increase self-awareness. If you’re concerned about your results or your mental health, speak with a qualified mental health professional or healthcare provider.
Not all porn consumption is harmful. But if you’re feeling ashamed, anxious, or stuck in a cycle of cravings, self-soothing, and regret, it might be time to take a closer look.
This self-assessment can help you:
You don’t have to “hit bottom” to explore your relationship with porn. A test can prompt reflection long before a mental health condition develops or intensifies.
Porn addiction, sometimes referred to as pornography addiction, is not formally listed in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), but many clinicians recognize it as a type of behavioral addiction with patterns similar to substance use disorder.
People struggling with problematic porn use often experience:
These signs can gradually erode a person’s wellness, and many individuals report feeling trapped in a loop of compulsion, secrecy, and regret.
The porn addiction test typically includes 15–25 questions that explore emotional, behavioral, and situational patterns tied to pornography. It draws from established tools used in assessing sex addiction, compulsive sexual behavior, and related mental health disorders.
Your score reflects whether your patterns might warrant further evaluation or intervention from a mental health professional.
A high score doesn’t mean you’re “addicted” in a clinical sense, but it does indicate that your use of pornography may be affecting your life in ways worth addressing.
The test offers direction, not diagnosis. What you do next is what makes the difference.
You may not feel like viewing porn is inherently wrong or harmful. But like other behaviors such as eating, shopping, or scrolling on social media, it can become excessive or compulsive.
These experiences are not a reflection of weakness. They’re signals that something deeper may be driving the behavior.
Pornography addiction is rarely about porn alone. It’s often tied to emotional regulation, past trauma, or unmet psychological needs.
For example:
Long-term compulsive porn use has been associated with increased risk for:
That’s why addressing porn addiction often means looking beyond the screen.
What it can do:
What it can’t do:
Self-assessments are valuable tools, but their most significant strength is pointing you toward next steps.
Consider taking the quiz if you:
It’s not about proving you have a problem. It’s about recognizing when something in your daily life is no longer serving your health.
There’s no universal path to healing, but evidence-based care for pornography addiction includes:
Many people benefit from integrated treatment programs that combine behavioral health support with community and wellness practices.
Whether you’re struggling yourself or worried about someone close to you, support is available. Healing doesn’t require perfection. It starts with awareness, honesty, and the courage to ask for help.
A: While porn addiction is not currently classified as a distinct disorder in the DSM-5, many experts view it as a form of behavioral addiction with significant impacts on mental health and relationships.
A: Addiction is not about frequency alone. If your use of pornography feels compulsive, causes distress, or interferes with your daily life, it may be worth exploring further.
A: Not everyone who watches porn has a problem. The key question is whether it’s affecting your self-esteem, relationships, productivity, or emotional well-being.
A: Most treatment involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, sometimes paired with trauma-informed care, group support, or digital detox strategies. Treatment plans are tailored to each individual’s needs.
A: Yes. Long-term porn use may reduce sensitivity to real-life intimacy, alter expectations, or contribute to mental health conditions like anxiety or low libido.
A: Approach them with empathy, not blame. Express concern about how their porn habits may be affecting their wellness, and offer to support them in finding professional help if they’re open to it.
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