HILLSBOROUGH, NC – The latest research data released by Adam & Eve does little to give a clear picture about the age at which Americans typically access explicit adult content for the first time. However, the data suggest not only that the behavior is nothing new, but also that underage porn-watching is not exactly rampant.

As part of its continuing study of sexual attitudes and practices, the adult products retailer and content producer asked more than 1,000 Americans age 18 and older how old they were the first time they saw a XXX-rated movie. Answers covered a range of ages from 5 to 85.

Among male respondents, the most common answer (13 percent of responses) was “18 years old.” Nearly the same percentage (12.9 percent) of respondents indicated their first exposure to porn occurred at age 16; another 12 percent indicated they first viewed adult material at age 15. Several subjects (11.6 percent) admitted to sneaking their first peek at age 12.

Of the women who admitted watching adult content, 16.6 percent indicated they viewed their first explicit material when they were 18, followed by 11.8 percent at 16 years of age and 9.1 percent at 15. The range of women’s answers covered ages 6 to 48.

Adam & Eve’s resident sexpert, Dr. Kat Van Kirk, said she doesn’t find the results surprising.

“Humans have an innate curiosity about sex,” she said. “Of course, there is a reason adult videos are not supposed to be available to children under 18 — but with that said, I’m encouraged that the average viewing age appears to be in line with [appropriate age restrictions].”

The web-based survey was conducted by an independent third-party survey company on Adam & Eve’s behalf.