Psychocultural impact of cybersex on sexuality of Nigerian youths

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study of the effects of Exposure to Cybersex, Ethnic Group, and Gender on Sexual Behaviour (defined as Socio-sexual Orientation) of 133 university students. Exposure to Cybersex was determined through networking of computers used by night internet-browsing students at three major Cyber cafés in a university setting. The sampled students responded to an instrument comprising a Biographic Questionnaire and a Socio-sexual Orientation Inventory (SOI). Results showed a significant main effect of Exposure to Cybersex, as well as a significant interaction effect of Exposure to Cybersex, Ethnic Group, and Gender, on Socio-sexual Orientation. In this 3-way interaction, ethnic group impacted socio-sexual orientation more when the students in focus were female than when they were male irrespective of whether they were exposed or unexposed to cybersex. Post hoc analysis revealed that socio-sexual orientation was generally higher among male (Igbo and Yoruba) students who were exposed to cybersex (with male Yoruba students scoring higher than their Igbo counterparts); and lower among female (Igbo and Yoruba) students who were unexposed to cybersex whereby female Igbo students scored higher than their Yoruba counterparts. Cybersex-exposed students generally reported higher Socio-sexual Orientation than their unexposed counterparts, but neither Ethnic Background nor Gender impacted this behaviour independently. Results were discussed in the light of reviewed literature while recommendations were made taking into cognizance the reality of the contemporary pervasiveness of internet pornography.

African Journal for Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 8(1) 2005: 132-153