It is very sad that so much research within modern medicine, and even more so modern psychiatry, is not easily available to the public. Here are some abstract’s on various effects/trends of sex workers and porn. After the abstract is the link. They are many more like this some much more interging studies, but you can't even get there abstract without paying for it.

Associations between childhood maltreatment and sex work in a cohort of drug-using youth

Although research has examined the impacts of childhood maltreatment among various marginalized populations, few studies have explored the relationship between child abuse and subsequent involvement in sex work among drug using street-involved youth. In the present study, the relationships between the level of childhood maltreatment and involvement in sex work were examined using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) as part of an extensive interview protocol in an ongoing prospective cohort study of street-involved youth in Vancouver Canada. Between September 2005 and June 2006, 361 youth were recruited using extensive outreach methods and snowball sampling. The prevalence rates for abuse in the sample were 73% for physical abuse; 32.4% for sexual abuse; 86.8% for emotional abuse; 84.5% for physical neglect; and 93% for emotional neglect. Univariate and logistic regression analyses demonstrated that not only was sexual abuse independently associated with sex work, but emotional abuse was as well. These findings have implications for early intervention efforts aimed at vulnerable, high risk youth populations as well as intervention strategies for active sex trade workers.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2254224

School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Pornography use and sexual aggression: the impact of frequency and type of pornography use on recidivism among sexual offenders.

In this study, we examined the unique contribution of pornography consumption to the longitudinal prediction of criminal recidivism in a sample of 341 child molesters. We specifically tested the hypothesis, based on predictions informed by the confluence model of sexual aggression that pornography will be a risk factor for recidivism only for those individuals classified as relatively high risk for re-offending. Pornography use (frequency and type) was assessed through self-report and recidivism was measured using data from a national database from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Indices of recidivism, which were assessed up to 15 years after release, included an overall criminal recidivism index, as well as subcategories focusing on violent (including sexual) recidivism and sexual recidivism alone. Results for both frequency and type of pornography use were generally consistent with our predictions. Most importantly, after controlling for general and specific risk factors for sexual aggression, pornography added significantly to the prediction of recidivism. Statistical interactions indicated that frequency of pornography use was primarily a risk factor for higher-risk offenders, when compared with lower-risk offenders, and that content of pornography (i.e., pornography containing deviant content) was a risk factor for all groups. The importance of conceptualizing particular risk factors (e.g., pornography), within the context of other individual characteristics is discussed.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18307171?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Accounting for the social triggers of sexual compulsivity.

Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training.

AIMS: To examine the social triggers of sexual compulsivity amongst a diverse sample of gay and bisexual men. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 180 gay and bisexual men in the United States who self-identified that their sex lives were spinning out of control. The data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to explore the range of social triggers that were driving sexual compulsions. MEASUREMENT: An open-ended interview and a structured clinical interview were conducted with each participant. The interviews examined their experiences with sexual compulsivity over time and the impact of their problematic sexual behaviors on their lives. FINDINGS: Two types of social triggers emerged from the data: event-centered triggers and contextual triggers. Event-centered triggers arise from sudden, unforeseen events. Two major event-centered triggers were identified: relationship turmoil and catastrophes. Contextual triggers, on the other hand, have a certain element of predictability, and included such things as location, people, the use of drugs, and pornography. CONCLUSIONS: This framework of triggers has clinical implications for the prevention and treatment of sexual compulsivity. Clinicians can utilize the framework of social triggers in the therapeutic process to provide insight into ways to effectively work through symptoms of sexual compulsivity. Awareness of the contextual aspects of sexual compulsivity may be critical to understanding the behaviors of sexually compulsive clients. Thus, therapeutic assessments should focus upon the social context in addition to the psychological components of the disorder.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18018804?ordinalpos=11&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Profile of female sex workers in a Chinese county: does it differ by where they came from and where they work?

Beijing Normal University Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing, China.

Since the 1980s, informal or clandestine sex work in the service or entertainment industry has spread from municipalities to small towns in most areas of

China. Despite recognition of the important role of female sex workers in HIV and STD epidemics in China, limited data are available regarding their individual characteristics and the social and environmental context of their work. Furthermore, most existing studies on commercial sex in China have been conducted in large cities or tourist attractions. Using data from 454 female sex workers in a rural Chinese county, the current study was designed to explore the individual profiles of commercial sex workers and to examine whether the profile and sexual risk behaviour differ by where the female sex workers came from and where they work. The sample in the current study was different from previous studies in a number of key individual characteristics. However, similarly to previous studies, the subjects in the current study were driven into commercial sex by poverty or limited employment opportunities, lived a stressful life, were subject to sexual harassment and related violence, and engaged in a number of health-compromising behaviours including behaviours that put them at risk of HIV/STD infection and depression. The findings of the current study underscore the urgent need for effective HIV/STD prevention, intervention and mental health promotion programs among female sex workers in China. The data in the current study suggest a strong association of individual profile with the economic conditions of work sites and residence status (in-province residency vs. out-of-province residency), which suggests that such efforts must take the social and cultural contextual factors of working environment (and sexual risks) into consideration.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18270499?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Silent killers of the night: an exploration of psychological health and suicidality among female street sex workers.

Department of Economics, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, USA.

This article examines factors that relate to psychological health (as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument) as well as suicide attempts among female street sex workers (FSSWs) in Hong Kong. On average, our sampled FSSWs scored significantly lower on the psychological health domain in comparison to the general Hong Kong female population. Factors associated with the working environment in the sex industry were significantly associated with poor psychological health and suicidality. Greater attention is needed to examine the physical and emotional harm intrinsic to certain occupations and the role of financial needs in the experience of psychological stress.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17541848?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Prevalence and health correlates of prostitution among patients entering treatment for substance use disorders.

Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research and Education Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.

CONTEXT: Studies of prostitution have focused largely on individuals involved in the commercial sex trade, with an emphasis on understanding the public health effect of this behavior. However, a broader understanding of how prostitution affects mental and physical health is needed. In particular, the study of prostitution among individuals in substance use treatment would improve efforts to provide comprehensive treatment. OBJECTIVES: To document the prevalence of prostitution among women and men entering substance use treatment, and to test the association between prostitution, physical and mental health, and health care utilization while adjusting for reported history of childhood sexual abuse, a known correlate of prostitution and poor health outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of 1606 women and 3001 men entering substance use treatment in the United States who completed a semistructured intake interview as part of a larger study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported physical health (respiratory, circulatory, neurological, and internal organ conditions, bloodborne infections) and mental health (depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms, and suicidal behavior), and use of emergency department, clinic, hospital, or inpatient mental health services within the past year. RESULTS: Many participants reported prostitution in their lifetime (50.8% of women and 18.5% of men) and in the past year (41.4% of women and 11.2% of men). Prostitution was associated with increased risk for bloodborne viral infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and mental health symptoms. Prostitution was associated with use of emergency care in women and use of inpatient mental health services for men. CONCLUSIONS: Prostitution was common among a sample of individuals entering substance use treatment in the United States and was associated with higher risk of physical and mental health problems. Increased efforts toward understanding prostitution among patients in substance use treatment are warranted. Screening for prostitution in substance use treatment could allow for more comprehensive care to this population.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18316680?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

What many transgender activists don't want you to know: and why you should know it anyway.

Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208-2710, USA.

Currently the predominant cultural understanding of male-to-female transsexualism is that all male-to-female (MtF) transsexuals are, essentially, women trapped in men's bodies. This understanding has little scientific basis, however, and is inconsistent with clinical observations. Ray Blanchard has shown that there are two distinct subtypes of MtF transsexuals. Members of one subtype, homosexual transsexuals, are best understood as a type of homosexual male. The other subtype, autogynephilic transsexuals, are motivated by the erotic desire to become women. The persistence of the predominant cultural understanding, while explicable, is damaging to science and to many transsexuals.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17951886?ordinalpos=14&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

A task force of the American Psychological Association (APA) released a major report called "The Sexualization of Girls" on February 19. They reported wide evidence that the proliferation in media and advertising of sexualized images of young women and girls is harmful to girls’ self-image and healthy development. It’s damaging to the physical health of our children. It’s damaging to their mental health.

A woman is sexually objectified, that is, made into a thing for another’s sexual use, when her value is portrayed as coming only from her sexual appeal or behavior. Pornography carries this to the extreme.

The sexualization of girls and women, already widespread, is increasing in the "new media." The new media include the internet and all the new hand-held display devices, including cell phones.

The evidence clearly shows that the sexualization and objectification of girls has wide-ranging negative effects. Quoting from a summary by psychologist Dr. Ken Pope:

Cognitive and emotional consequences: the sexualization and objectification undermine a person’s confidence in and comfort with her own body, leading to emotional and self image problems, such as shame and anxiety.

Mental and physical health: research links sexualization with three of the most common mental health problems diagnosed in girls and women — eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression or depressed mood.

Sexual development: research suggests that the sexualization of girls has negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop a healthy sexual self-image.

http://www.neillneill.com/60/porn-damages-health-of-girls/

Extra link

http://www.crisisconnectioninc.org/pdf/Porn.pdf

This is in response to some claiming I was making crap up.

Unfortunately most people think a Google hit is evidence equivalent to a peer reviewed article on Pubmed and no amount of arguing will convince them otherwise.

Who was it that claimed Pornography actually lowered sex offenders?

ok

whats your point op ?

The stats are true but there are other factors like how the scociety is prosecuting crimes, policing, etc that contribute to the lowering crime numbers. It just so happens 1st world country tend to be the ones with more porn they also have lower crime rates, but they don't go hand and hand.

I have just got to say that the study about transgender appears to be very narrow. This comes from my experience as a volunteer HIV conselor in SF. There is a very broad range in the transgender community that range from Homosexual to those who actually feel they are women. Whether or not it is mental disorder or not aside, Erotic feeling is not the main motivating factor for a quite a few TGs while for others it is. The issue is clouded because of social pressure and acceptance and one of the easiest way to gain perceived acceptance when you are dealing with low self esteem is sex. Social pressures lead to low self esteem in many who choose to or not to follow what they feel.

Lowered sexual crime rates. It's been shown to correlate most strongly among other factors. You'll notice none of his studies actually say it doesn't.

Also, it's fairly easy to get access to any of those, you just need to know someone in college. Those and much more are available to anyone who has a student ID. I know. I did the research back when I was a Psych Student.

His last report isn't even about porn. It's about the culture as a whole... which actually is a bigger problem. The main problem isn't porn. It's that everything that isn't porn is starting to resemble porn. I can't even look at most costumes meant for girls in gradeschool because it makes me sick.

Either way, it's one of those things you see a lot of arguement and poorly constructed research done on both sides due to the feminist split on porn as a whole.  That's one of the problems with Qualitative studies.  They are pretty much the breeding ground of bias.

Yeah that one I wasn't sure about posting, But I thought it was interesting so I did. I have never made any statement regarding that nor will I. And as such no one has attacked me on that issue.

So just to be clear Having to go to a university to do research is easilly accessed by the public. Yeah in 2 seconds I can get any USA history. So don't give me that crap. You know what I'm talking about.