Honors

STAR Lab's Director Dr Beáta Bőthe has been named a 2025 APS Rising Star by Association of Psychological Science!
February 27th, 2025
STAR Lab's Director Dr Beáta Bőthe has been named a 2025 APS Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science, celebrating her groundbreaking work that has already shaped the field and highlights her potential for continued contributions.

Learn more about the nomination here.
​
Congratulations! 🌟

New article

New article published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions!
February 13th, 2025
Our new article titled ​Identification and comprehensive characterization of moral disapproval and behavioral dysregulation-based pornography-use profiles across 42 countries is now published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions! This systematic review and meta-analysis explore how age, gender, and cultural factors influence gambling problems worldwide. 

Enjoy​! 🌟

New article

Book Review Published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions!
February 6th, 2025
The review of My secret life as a sex addict: How I repaired the damage, written by our research assistants—Vanessa Beaulieu, Marianne Danella, and Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni—has been published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions!

​Congratulations on your outstanding work! 🌟

Interview

Dr. Beáta Bőthe’s Interview on Pornography and Sexual Satisfaction Ranks #1 on UdeMNouvelles' Top 10 Most-Read Articles of 2024! 

January 10th, 2025
Dr. Beáta Bőthe’s interview on pornography and sexual satisfaction was the most-read article on UdeMNouvelles in 2024, ahead of major events like the solar eclipse. Read the full article and explore the full list of top articles through the link. 🌟

Interview

 Interview:  It's Time to Talk About Pornography, Scholars Say
Title in French: «Il est temps de parler de la pornographie, affirment les chercheur.euse.s»
December 16th, 2024
In an article published on December 12, 2024, Dr. Beáta Bőthe discusses the critical importance of addressing pornography use among adolescents in The New York Times. The piece highlights the need to promote "porn literacy"—an informed understanding of the unrealistic and potentially harmful depictions in online content. 

The article titled It’s Time to Talk About Pornography, Scholars Say is available on The New York Times website.
Enjoy! 🌟

Conference

Vanessa Beaulieu Presented at the 5th International Mukwege Chair Congress in Montreal! 
December 6th, 2024
The 5th International Mukwege Chair Congress (5CCIM) made its North American debut in Montreal from December 3 to 6. Our lab coordinator, Vanessa Beaulieu, D.E.S.S., presented her research on the impact of childhood sexual abuse on sexual well-being in women across three age groups.
Congratulations Vanessa! 🌟

Conference

Highlights from the Annual CSRF Conference!
November 7th, 2024
From October 24–26, members of STAR Lab attended the annual Canadian Sex Research Forum in Halifax, NS, where the team shared their latest research findings. Looking forward to next year’s conferencce! 🌟

Research Assistant and B. Sc. student, Vanessa Beaulieu (D.E.S.S.) presented a data blitz on the “Association between childhood sexual abuse and sexual well-being among individuals identifying as women across three age groups”.

​Vanessa's data blitz

​Susanne's poster
Research assistant and B. Sc. student, Susanne Coulombe presented a poster on the “Association between child sexual abuse and sexual desire among asexual men, women, and gender-diverse individuals”.
Ph.D. student, Anaïka François (B.Sc.) presented “A portrait of the sexual well-being of women reporting compulsive sexual behavior (CSB)” via poster.

​Anaïka's poster

​Aurélie's poster
Ph.D. student, Aurélie Michaud (M.Sc.) presented a poster presentation titled “Does an individual’s moral disapproval of pornography relate to their partner’s pornography use and perception of having an addiction to pornography?”.
Research assistant and B. Sc. student, Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni presented a poster titled “Fantasies don’t retire : A gender-based exploration of paraphilic sexual fantasies in older adults”.

​Fabiola's poster presented by Anaïka
The team in Halifax :)

Scholarship

Congratulations to Aurélie Michaud on Receiving the PARSECS Research Support Scholarship!
 October 19th, 2024
Join us in congratulating Aurélie Michaud on receiving the research support scholarship under the Programme d'aide au rayonnement du savoir étudiant des cycles supérieurs (PARSECS), awarded by FAÉCUM!

Aurélie is a PhD student in clinical psychology at the Université de Montréal, where her research focuses on moral incongruence related to pornography use.

Congratulations! 🌟

Scholarship

Celebrating Achievements: Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni Awarded Desjardins Foundation Scholarship !

October 11th, 2024
Join us in congratulating Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni on receiving the Desjardins Foundation scholarship!

Fabiola is currently in her second year of undergraduate studies in psychology at Université de Montréal, where her research focuses on the sexual well-being and issues of older individuals through an intersectional lens.

Congratulations! 🌟

Conference

Conference Summer 2024 Lineup
July 3oth, 2024
Our STAR Lab team truly stood out in this remarkable summer conference lineup! Our research team presented our latest findings in Drummondville and Ottawa. Meanwhile, our lab director, Dr. Beáta Bőthe, shared her work in Warsaw, Gibraltar, and Berlin.
 
Congratulations to our STARS! 🌟


Scholarship

Our lab coordinator, Vanessa Beaulieu, has been honored as a recipient of a Bourse mosaïque d'excellence 2024!
June 26th, 2024
Our lab coordinator, Vanessa Beaulieu, has been honored as a recipient of a Bourse mosaïque d'excellence 2024: Carrefour en intervention et vie repensée (1000$ CAD) from the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Congratulations! 🌟

New article

New article published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science!
June 20th, 2024
Our study conducted across 16 countries using machine learning has just been published! You can read about the findings on the most robust predictors of problematic pornography use of Dr. Beáta Bőthe and her team. 🌟

Conference

Our team participated in the 17th Scientific Day of the Psychology Department at the University of Montreal
May 3rd, 2024
Our team recently had the pleasure of participating in the 17th Scientific Day organized by the Psychology Department at the University of Montreal. Every year, this event introduces our students to the world of scientific conferences. Over 400 students take part, and more than a hundred present their research work.

Congratulations everyone! 🌟

Research grant

Research Grant & New Study

May 1st, 2024
Our lab director, Beáta Bőthe, has been awarded the prestigious research grant Soutien à la recherche pour la relève professorale from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) for her project titled Le rôle des émotions et des difficultés de régulation émotionnelle dans l’utilisation problématique de pornographie chez les couples : Une étude longitudinale dyadique spanning from 2025 to 2028. The new study will start in Fall 2024.

Stay tuned for further updates and information! 🌟

Scholarship

One of our doctoral students has been awarded a FRQSC Scholarship for a Two-Year Term!

April 26th, 2024
Emilie Gaudet, who is pursuing her Ph.D. in psychology at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Bőthe, has been selected as a recipient of the Scholarships on the use of screens and the practice of gambling and money games from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) for 2024-2026. The scholaship includes funding of 27,500$ (CAD) per year for a total of 2 years.

Congratulations! 🌟

Scholarship

One of our doctoral students has been the recipient of a CRIPCAS international conference scholarship!

April 17th, 2024
Emilie Gaudet, who is pursuing her Ph.D. in psychology at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Bőthe, received the CRIPCAS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE GRANTS (500$ CAD) to support students presenting at international conferences for the year 2023-2024!

Congratulations! 🌟

Interview

 Interview: There are benefits – and risks – to pornography
Title in French: Pornographie et satisfaction sexuelle: entre risques et bienfaits
April 16th, 2024
Our director, Beáta Bőthe, recently gave an interview to udemnouvelles to discuss the impact of pornography consumption on sexual satisfaction. This discussion highlights findings from the International Sex Survey.

Enjoy! 🌟

Conference

Our team was in Toronto, Ontario from April 4 to 7 to attend the 49th annual meeting of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR).

April 7th, 2024
Some of our STARS shined at SSTAR! From April 4 to 7, members of the STAR Lab attended the annual conference of the Society for Sex Therapy & Research in Toronto, Ontario.

Congratulations everyone! 🌟

Our lab directed, Dr. Beáta Bőthe, presented a poster on the “Empirical evidence for the applicability of the moral incongruence model of problematic pornography use in different cultures”.
Research Assistant and undergraduate student, Vanessa Beaulieu (D.E.S.S.) presented a poster on the: “Associations between adolescent/adult non-consensual sexual experiences and anxiety among heterosexual and sexually diverse individuals – Findings from the 42-country International Sex Survey”.
Doctoral student, Anaïka François (B.Sc.) presented a data blitz: “A portrait of women's pornography use motivations and frequency of use in different age groups".
Doctoral student, Émilie Gaudet (B.A.) presented a data blitz on the “Impulsivity and compulsivity’s associations with Compulsive Sexual Disorder across 42 countries".
Doctoral student, Aurélie Michaud (M.Sc.) gave an oral presentation on the “The potential impact of a gap in romantic partners' moral incongruence toward pornography on their sexual and relationship satisfaction cross-sectionally and over time".

Interview

 Interview: New research sheds light on the global impact of problematic pornography use
Title in French: Une nouvelle étude met en lumière l'impact mondial de la consommation problématique de pornographie
March 25th, 2024
Our director, Beáta Bőthe, was recently interviewed by PsyPost - Psychology Research News about the latest discoveries on problematic pornography use from the International Sex Survey.

Want to know more? Find the article here! 🌟

Interview

 Interview: Global study unveils "problematic" use of porn
Title in French: Une étude internationale révèle l'utilisation «problématique» de la pornographie
March 4th, 2024
Our director, Beáta Bőthe, recently sat down with a journalist from udemnouvelles to discuss how online pornography use resonates across genders and continents. The interview revealed some fascinating findings that challenge conventional narratives.

Want to know more? Find the article here! 🌟

Guest speaker

Dr. Beáta Bőthe, director of the STAR Lab, presented at the Forum pour la Formation Médicale (FOMF)'s Formation Continue pour les Psychiatres et les Psychothérapeutes!

December 1st, 2023
 Dr. Beáta Bőthe, Director of STAR Lab, shared insights into predictors of problematic pornography use, based on the findings of a large-scale machine learning study spanning 16 countries.

Congratulations! 🌟

Honors

 STAR Lab's Director Beáta Bőthe has been honored with the 𝐸𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 (2023) by the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Addictions!

November 21st, 2023
STAR Lab's Director Beáta Bőthe has been honored with the 𝐸𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 (2023) by the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, recognizing her significant contributions in the field of behavioral addictions.
Learn more about her achievements: here.

Congratulations! 🌟

Scholarship

One of our doctoral students has been recognized by the Études supérieures et postdoctorales (ESP)!

November 15th, 2023
Anaïka François, who is pursuing her Ph.D. in psychology at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Bőthe, received the DIRECT ACCESS DOCTORATE SCHOLARSHIP-Scholarship B (8000$ CAD) from the ESP for the year 2023-2024!

Congratulations! 🌟

Conference

Our team was in Montreal, QC from October 12-14 to attend the Canadian Sex Research Forum (CSRF).

October 24th, 2023
We are thrilled to announce the success of our presence at the CSRF! Our dedicated research assistants and doctoral students put on an impressive display of poster and oral presentations. We would also like to take this opportunity to give a big shoutout to our esteemed Laboratory Director, Dr. Beáta Bőthe, for her unyielding support. Stay tuned for more updates on our research endeavours!

Congratulations everyone! 🌟

Research Assistant and undergraduate student, Marianne Danella presented a poster on the “Longitudinal associations between depression and sexual satisfaction among couples: Gender and sexual orientation-based differences”.
Doctoral student, Anaïka François (B.Sc.) and research assistant and undergraduate student, Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni presented “A portrait of cisgender and transgender women aged 55 years or older's pornography use motivations and frequency of use” via poster.
Research Assistant and undergraduate student, Vanessa Beaulieu (D.E.S.S.) presented a poster on the “Associations between adolescent/adult non-consensual sexual experiences and anxiety among heterosexual and sexually diverse individuals in Canada”.
Research Assistant and undergraduate student, Anne-Laurie Bélec presented a poster on the “Longitudinal associations between anxiety, depression and sexual function among couples”.
 Research Assistant and undergraduate student, Nevena Popova presented a poster on the “Dyadic associations between childhood interpersonal trauma and sexual distress in heterosexual and sexually diverse couples”.
Research assistants and undergraduate students, Florence Tremblay and Rosalie Roy presented a poster on “The associations between having experienced sexual abuse and sexual assertiveness among Canadien women, men, and gender-diverse individuals”.
Doctoral student, Émilie Gaudet (B.A.) gave an oral presentation on the “Associations between motivations for pornography use and sexual function among cisgender and gender-diverse individuals: Findings from the International Sex Survey (ISS)”.

Scholarships

Two of our doctoral students have distinguished themselves in the 2023-24 CRIPCAS Graduate Scholarships competition!

September 22nd, 2023
Émilie Gaudet, who is pursuing her Ph.D. in psychology at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Bőthe, received a 1000$ CAD scholarship for her project titled Associations between pornography use and satisfaction/frustration of psychological needs.

Aurélie Michaud, who is completing her doctorate in clinical psychology (D.Psy) at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Bőthe, also received a 1000$ CAD scholarship for her project titled The potential impact of a gap in love partners' moral incongruence towards pornography on their sexual and relational satisfaction.

Congratulations to both of them! 🌟

Interview

Interview: Beáta Bőthe: pornography under the microscope
Title in French: Beáta Bőthe: la pornographie sous la loupe
August 14th, 2023
Our director, Beáta Bőthe, sat down with a journalist from udemnouvelles to talk about her research on sexuality, addictions and online sexual behavior. The interview covers her academic career, research interests and future plans with the International Sexuality Study!

Enjoy! 🌟

Interview

Interview: Désextifier: Pornography
Title in French: Désextifier: Pornographie
July 7th, 2023
Our director, Beáta Bőthe, sat down with doctoral students to talk about her research on pornography in the podcast Désextifier. Désextifier is a documentary series that demystifies sexuality and sex research. The serie is presented by the Laboratoire d'étude de la santé sexuelle, the Laboratoire d'étude du couple, the Laboratoire de recherche sur les interactions et la vie conjugale and CISM.

Enjoy! 🌟

New article

A new article from our director, Beáta Bőthe, published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions !
June 29th, 2023
Our director, Beáta Bőthe (Ph.D), along with Mónika Koós (MA), Léna Nagy (MA), Shane Kraus (Ph.D), Marc Potenza (MD, Ph.D.), Zsolt Demetrovics,(Ph.D., D.Sc.) and additional researchers from the participating countries co-authored the research paper titled "Compulsive sexual behavior disorder in 42 countries: Insights from the International Sex Survey and introduction of standardized assessment tools" published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions.

Congratulations! 🌟

Interview

Interview: Should we talk more about pornography at school?
Title in French: Faut-il parler davantage de pornographie à l'école ?
June 28th, 2022
Our director, Beáta Bőthe, sat down with a journalist from l'Agence QMI for the Journal de Montréal to talk about pornography use in adolescence. The interview covers findings from A Large-Scale Comparison of Canadian Sexual/Gender Minority and Heterosexual, Cisgender Adolescents’ Pornography Use Characteristics (2020).

Enjoy! 🌟

Interview

Interview: COVID-19: Pornography consumption among teenagers remains stable
Title in French: COVID-19: la consommation de pornographie chez les adolescents demeure stable
March 11th, 2022
Our director, Beáta Bőthe, sat down with a journalist from udemnouvelles to talk about pornography use in adolescence. The interview covers findings from A Longitudinal Study of Adolescents’ Pornography Use Frequency, Motivations, and Problematic Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Enjoy! 🌟