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If pornography feels harder to manage than you’d like, the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS) can offer insight. As a Sydney psychologist, I use measures such as this 12-question tool to help clients understand how their use affects control and daily life. Developed by researchers in 2014, it’s designed to highlight specific struggles—practical steps toward clarity start here. On this page, I’ll explain what it measures and how it can guide you, even if you can’t take it directly online (its not available to the general public on the internet). My goal is to support you in making sense of your experience.
The PPUS is a self-report tool designed to assess problematic pornography use through four key areas: excessive use (more than intended), control difficulties (can’t stop), negative consequences (life disruptions), and emotional distress (guilt or shame). With 12 questions, it’s shorter than some scales but still thorough, created by Kor et al. (2014) and tested with hundreds of participants. It’s built to spot practical impacts—think missed deadlines or arguments—not just time spent watching.
Its reliability is strong, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87. For non-experts, that’s a fancy way of saying the questions fit together well—like a puzzle where every piece clicks. A high score like that (close to 1.0) means it’s consistent: you’d likely get a similar result if you took it twice, assuming nothing’s changed. In my practice, I appreciate how it balances depth with focus—it’s not overwhelming but still reveals what matters. Research shows it aligns with other addiction measures, making it a solid choice for understanding your relationship with pornography.
Wondering if the PPUS fits your situation? It’s ideal if you’re noticing specific struggles—like trying to cut back but failing, or seeing pornography spill into work or home life. I recommend it to clients in Sydney who feel stuck—maybe it’s guilt after watching, or tension with a partner. It’s less about broad addiction patterns and more about pinpointing control and fallout.
If you’re unsure if porn’s an issue at all, the Brief Pornography Screen might be a quicker start.
The PPUS is straightforward, though I can’t share all 12 questions here due to copyright as it is not publicly available. You’d rate statements about your pornography use—like ‘I’ve tried to stop but couldn’t’ or ‘It’s caused problems in my life’—on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 5 (very much). Reflect on the past few months, answer honestly, and add up your scores. Total range is 0 to 60.
Pornography Addiction Treatment Page
Investigate other validated measures to assess possible pornography addiction.
The PPUS is straightforward, though I can’t share all 12 questions here due to copyright as it is not publicly available. You’d rate statements about your pornography use—like ‘I’ve tried to stop but couldn’t’ or ‘It’s caused problems in my life’—on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 5 (very much). Reflect on the past few months, answer honestly, and add up your scores. Total range is 0 to 60.
Kor, A., Zilcha-Mano, S., Fogel, Y. A., Mikulincer, M., Reid, R. C., & Potenza, M. N. (2014). Psychometric development of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale. Addictive Behaviors, 39(5), 861–868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.02.027
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030646031400069X
Summary: This article develops the PPUS, a 12-item scale to measure problematic pornography use, focusing on control and consequences, with strong reliability shown across samples.
Griffiths, M. (2005). A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659890500114359
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14659890500114359
Summary: This outlines the six-component addiction model, providing a theoretical base for scales like the PPUS to assess behaviors like pornography use.
2 Warwick Avenue, Cammeray, NSW 2062
Copyright © 2025 Angus Munro Psychology