WASHINGTON – The majority of people younger than 40 believe pornography has no effect on real-world sex lives, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of a Cox Media Group division

As part of an ongoing series of surveys about political, social, religious and economic attitudes among the under-40 set, lifestyle news outlet Rare.us asked young voters across the spectrum about their views regarding pornography. Forty-eight percent of respondents answered “no” when asked whether internet pornography “ruined real-world sex lives.” Thirty-three percent indicated porn has a negative impact, and 19 percent were unsure.

The results split along religious, gender and political lines.

Surprisingly, Roman Catholics were the most liberal in their attitudes about porn: only 27 percent said porn affects real-life sex. Among other faiths, 63 percent of evangelical Christians and 67 percent of Muslims took the opposite stance.

The gender gap was less dramatic: 28 percent of men and 37 percent of women said they believe porn affects sex lives in a negative way.

As might be expected, political party affiliation played a role in responses: 52 percent of registered Republicans viewed porn as a negative influence, but only 20 percent of registered Democrats said porn poses a problem.

Education, too, affected respondents’ opinions: only 22 percent of those with college degrees believe porn has an effect on real life; 48 percent of those who didn’t finish high school expressed that opinion.

Conducted by the nonpartisan research firm Gravis Marketing between Aug. 11 and 18, the poll surveyed 556 Americans younger than 40 by phone and online. The survey pool represented a 54-46 percent split between female and male registered voters, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of respondents claimed no party affiliation, 32 percent identified as Democrats and 29 percent said they were registered Republicans.