Compensatory and Dissociative Coping in Young Adults: A Person-Centered Analysis of Their Associations with Childhood Maltreatment and Problematic Pornography Use

Abstract

Building on the Compensatory-Dissociative Online Gaming model (Giardina et al., 2024a), the current study proposes a compensatory–dissociative continuum of online pornography consumption. Using a person-centered approach, we identified distinct young adult profiles based on compensatory and dissociative patterns. We first examined differences in psychopathological symptoms, impulsivity, loneliness, emotion regulation, basic psychological needs, and early childhood trauma. We then explored how early childhood trauma moderates the links between compensatory and dissociative patterns profiles, problematic pornography use characterized by loss of control, distress, and impairment, and overall online pornography consumption. A total of 608 young adults (436 men [73%], 165 women [27%]), ranging in age from 18 to 27 years (M = 24.3, SD = 4.8) completed self-report measures assessing compensatory–dissociative pornography use, early childhood trauma, psychopathological symptoms, impulsivity, loneliness, difficulties in emotion regulation, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and both problematic and overall pornography use. Latent profile analysis identified three profiles (Low, Mid, and High) based on compensatory and dissociative tendencies. Participants in the High profile group reported the most severe psychological outcomes, whereas those in the Low profile group demonstrated the healthiest functioning. Childhood sexual abuse severity was significantly linked to greater problematic pornography use and higher frequency of pornography consumption. Unexpectedly, participants in the Mid profile group, not the High profile group, reported the highest online pornography consumption. Results highlight the value of person-centered approaches in revealing complex trauma related behavioral patterns and emphasize the importance of tailored interventions addressing problematic pornography use among young adults.