A Qualitative Study on Pacific Male Perspectives on Addressing Porn Use and Addiction in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Pacific experiences, in particular, male perspectives of pornography use remain significantly under-examined in contemporary behavioural health scholarship, despite growing evidence of its complex intersections with cultural identity, spirituality, masculinity, and community expectations in Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific region. This study critically investigates how Pacific males understand, navigate, and respond to pornography within the interconnected domains of church, culture, and community, three influential spaces that shape moral reasoning, gendered expectations, and collective wellbeing. Findings reveal that pornography use is framed not only as an individual behavioural issue but as a culturally embedded concern that disrupts relationships, challenges masculine identities, and amplifies shame and silence within faith-based and communal settings. Participants emphasised the need for culturally grounded, church-engaged, and community-led strategies that move beyond punitive moral narratives to foster compassionate dialogue, relational accountability, and culturally resonant education on sexuality and digital wellbeing. This paper argues that addressing pornography among Pacific males requires a holistic, strengths-based approach centred on cultural safety and collective responsibility. By foregrounding Pacific voices, the study contributes critical insights for culturally responsive intervention design, pastoral care, and public health policy, positioning Pacific worldviews as essential to understanding and addressing pornography-related harms in culturally meaningful and socially just ways.