ANCOVA Study of Psychotherapy Treatment of Internet Pornography Addiction in Heterosexual Men

Internet pornography has grown to become a problem that exists within the United States and across the globe. For those who suffer from this problematic behavior experience individual and familial problems as well as cause damage to the psyche, professionally and sexually. Those who suffer from addiction do not possess the ability to be able to stop the behavior on their own. Treatment is needed to help internet pornography users and addicts to recover while minimizing relapse from its consumption. This research proposal is a randomized, controlled, clinical ANCOVA study that will determine the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy for reducing Internet pornography viewing and behaviors among male heterosexual Internet pornography addicts. Treatment will take place for eight week period and consist of 75 male participants who are randomly assigned to either the CBT, ACT or wait-list control groups. Participants will be assessed at pretest (week 1), posttest (week 9) and three month follow-up (week 13) on the SIS/SES SAST-R, CPUI and AAQ-II measures. The study will define Internet pornography addictive behaviors, negative consequences and explain internal, external, construct and statistical construct validity with regard to the study’s design. Success of the study would provide effective treatment protocol and lessen the destruction of Internet pornography addiction on addicts who seek treatment as well as provide a format for therapists to follow as this is a new type of addiction, which has yet to be universally defined