By examining variables such as depression, anxiety, stress, and specific usage motives, the research clarifies why certain individuals develop a compulsive relationship with adult content while others do not. This suggests that problematic pornography use rarely exists in isolation. Anxiety and the “stress reduction motive” emerged as the strongest indicators of problematic pornography use among Indian adults. It frames PPU as a measurable psychological response shaped by stress, anxiety, and internal reward systems, rather than a question of morality or personal character. The study further shows that problematic pornography use in India is multifaceted and driven primarily by emotional regulation rather than sexual interest alone.