A sex-positive mixed methods approach to sexting experiences among college students

Risk Factors for Non-Consensual Sexting Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults: An Extension of the Routine Activity Theory Perspective

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are developmental phases in which the exploration of one's own sexuality takes on a high priority, which can increase the risk of risky sexual behavior. Due to technological advances, (non-consensual) sexting has increased among young people and has become an integral part of their sexual socialization. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine non-consensual sexting (both victimization and perpetration) among adolescents and emerging adults and to identify potential risk factors associated with non-consensual sexting using routine activity theory. The sample consisted of a total of 3514 adolescents aged 10-17 years (43% males; 57% females) and 3674 emerging adults aged 18-25 years (23% males; 77% females) from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The results showed that both male adolescents and emerging adults were at higher risk for experiencing non-consensual sexting victimization. Personal factors such as gender, age, social bond, and routine cell phone activity predicted the risk of becoming a victim of non-consensual sexting in adolescents. For emerging adults, gender, social connection to friends, and routine cell phone use predicted the risk of becoming a victim of non-consensual sexting. Relationship status and routine cell phone activity predicted the forwarding of other sexts for both age groups. According to international scientific research and the findings of this particular study, we can conclude that the study of personal factors and routine variables helps understand non-consensual sexting among youth but is also essential in planning educational resources and preventive activities.

Re-envisioning Youth Sexual Health Care: Supporting Sex Positivity in a Digital World

INTRODUCTION

Youth in a digital world face challenges to the healthy development of their sexuality from exposure to sexting, pornography, and other sexually explicit media. School-based sexual health education does not cover digital sexual content and its impact on sexuality and sexual relationships. Youth often avoid discussing sexual health with parents or other trusted adults, thus often relying on peers, making them ill-prepared to navigate the complexities (e.g., socially, emotionally, and romantically) of sexually explicit content.

METHOD

A review of emerging evidence for application into clinical practice.

RESULTS

This paper provides nurse practitioners with resources and information to incorporate this re-envisioned approach to sexual health care into practice to provide current, timely, and holistic youth sexual health care.

DISCUSSION

Youth sexual health care must be re-envisioned. Nurse practitioners can improve youth sexual health by incorporating pornography and sexual media literacy, safe sexting, and concepts of consent into care using a sex-positive lens.

Associations between receiving non-consensual image and video sexts and average sleep duration among adolescents and young adults

Background Sexting is the sending and receiving of nude or partially nude images or videos. Despite it being a part of contemporary relationships, it can have adverse effects. This is particularly the case when receiving non-consensual sexts. To date, there remains a gap in the literature on whether receiving non-consensual sexts is associated with poor sleep. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between receiving non-consensual sexts and average sleep duration. Methods Data from Wave 2 (2022) of the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviours (N =906) were analysed. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between receiving non-consensual sexts (both image and video) in the past 12months and average sleep duration (≤5h, 6h, 7h, 8h, and ≥9h) in the past 2weeks. Analyses were stratified by gender. Results Girls and women who received non-consensual image and video sexts, compared to those who did not, were more likely to report ≤5h of average sleep in the past 2weeks, relative to 8h of average sleep. There were no significant findings among boys and men. Conclusion Findings underscore that receiving non-consensual image and video sexts may negatively impact sleep among girls and women, which may be contextualised by trauma responses experienced because of gender-based sexual violence. Healthcare and mental health professionals should be made aware of this association to provide effective care to girls and women.

A Latent Profile Analysis of Greek University Students' Sexting Profiles: Associations with Big Five Personality Traits

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between sexting profiles and five factor model (FFM) personality traits among Greek university students. A sample of 2913 participants predominantly aged between 18 and 25 years (M = 22; SD = 3.54; 69.6% females) completed a self-report online questionnaire that measured sexting behaviors and FFM traits. Latent profile analysis identified five distinct profiles which were labeled uninvolved, consensual sexters, non-consensual sexters, unwanted sexters, and highly involved sexters. The different sexting profiles were associated with distinct patterns of FFM trait scores. Specifically, the uninvolved scored higher on agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness than those highly involved in sexting, consensual, non-consensual, and unwanted sexters. Furthermore, those who sent unwanted sexts were more likely to be emotionally unstable than the consensual sexters and those not involved. These findings indicate that sexting behaviors may be related to certain personality traits and emphasize the importance of considering individual differences when studying sexting behaviors. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Sexting in Young Adults: A Normative Sexual Behavior

With the advancement of technology, sexting has become more prominent in high school and university samples. The current study examined the rates and characteristics of sexting among an online sample of 2,828 young adults aged 18-30, primarily from the U.S. and Canada. We found that most participants sext (81%), sext often (most report ≥ 11 sexts), and start young (most by 16-17 years of age). Common reasons for sexting echoed reasons for participating in other normative sexual behaviors, including that it was sexually arousing, they were asked and wanted to reciprocate, or they wanted to flirt. Sexual coercion was a gendered phenomenon, with 1 in 10 cisgender women and 1 in 50 cisgender men reporting having sent a sext due to being threatened. The body parts captured in cisgender men's sexts were more diverse, whereas cisgender women focused on their chest, underwear/genitalia, and stomach. Sexual orientation was also found to be a relevant factor, with different patterns in sexting experiences emerging across identities. The current study adds to the mounting evidence that sexting is a normative sexual behavior. Sexual education programs should provide youth with information on consent and safe sexting practices rather than follow an abstinence approach.

Retrospective and Prospective Analysis on "Sexting": Indicators of Productivity, Dispersion, and Content (2009-2019)

In the last decade, research on "sexting" has undergone an exponential increase, giving rise to the publication of numerous studies clarifying its meaning, offering information of educational value, and favoring a good use of technology to prevent problems caused by this exchange of sexual information. The aim of this article was to analyze the production, performance, impact, and content of scientific articles evaluating the "sexting" thesaurus (title, abstract, and/or keywords) between 2009 and September 2019. Articles were sourced from two internationally recognized databases: Scopus and Web of Science. A scientometric study was then carried out on a sample of 641 articles that met the established inclusion criteria. The main findings indicate that "sexting" is a very recent research focus, but one in full growth phase, with scientific production related to the topic likely to double over the next few years. Although "sexting" has been researched worldwide, the scientific production of the US and American authors is the most notable. There were also some differences between the Scopus and Web of Science databases, mainly in the volume of production and the trend. However, the studies do show a common research line, "cyberbullying," and a common target population: adolescents. Therefore, the content analysis reveals that research on "sexting" is mostly carried out with adolescents and takes into consideration other themes such as cyberbullying, dating violence, and sexuality.

Sexting with benefits? Exploration of sexting behaviours through the lens of protection motivation theory

Sexting is a common form of sexual communication that is often considered normative and beneficial despite some research highlighting its negative social, psychological, and legal repercussions. Using protection motivation theory (PMT), this study examines how young adults weigh the pros and cons of sending consensual sexts, sexting under pressure, and deciding against sending sexts, and whether body image dissatisfaction interacts with any of the decision-making processes. In total, 906 participants (554, 61.14% women), aged 18-25 years (M = 21.65, SD = 2.01), completed an online measure of sexting behaviours, body image, and protection motivation. Overall, 71.41% of respondents ever sent a sext. Of those, 45.07% and 36.32% felt pressure to sext or sent a sext because of pressure. Further, 63.90% participants ever considered and decided not to send a sext. All models predicting various sexting behaviours were significant and provided a partial support for the PMT. Body image was a unique predictor of 'pressured' sexting but its interactions with the PMT subscales for pressured sexting and decisions against sexting were non-significant. Our study illustrates the need for increasing young people's self-efficacy and body image to improve their sexting agency and experience.

Prevalence of Sexting among Greek University Students: A Matter of Relationships?

The study examines sexting among 3,171 Greek university students in the context of different relationship types (i.e. romantic partners, friends, strangers). Participants completed an anonymous online survey, assessing sexting during the last year along with demographic and relationship status information. Sexting was a common practice among participants, with the use of mobile phones and the Messenger application to exchange sexts. Sexting was more common among males and non-heterosexuals. Participants aged 25 and above were more likely to exchange sexts with strangers than those aged between 18 and 24. Romantic partners reported exchanging sexts more often than strangers. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that non-heterosexual males in a long-distance romantic relationship were more likely to participate in sexting, and that non-heterosexual older males who have been single for the last year were more likely to exchange sexual or provocative messages with strangers. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications.

Assessing image-based sexual abuse: Measurement, prevalence, and temporal stability of sextortion and nonconsensual sexting ("revenge porn") among adolescents

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to develop a new measure of victimization and perpetration of two frequent forms of image-based sexual abuse, namely sextortion (i.e., the threat of distributing sexual images to pressure the victim into doing something) and nonconsensual sexting (i.e., distributing sexual images of someone without the consent of the victim). Additional aims were to analyze the prevalence of these forms of victimization and perpetration and to examine their temporal stability over a 1-year period.

METHODS

The sample was made up of 1820 Spanish adolescents (mean age = 13.38, SD = 1.42; 929 girls, 878 boys, 3 nonbinary, and 10 did not indicate gender) who completed self-report instruments on image-based sexual abuse and related variables (e.g., cyberbullying victimization).

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis supported a structure composed of the four hypothesized factors: sextortion victimization and perpetration, and nonconsensual sexting victimization and perpetration. Higher sexting, cyberbullying victimization, and symptoms of depression and anxiety had stronger associations with image-based sexual victimization than with perpetration, which showed evidence of concurrent validity. Prevalence was 2.6% and 0.7% for sextortion victimization and perpetration, respectively, and 3.4% and 4.9% for nonconsensual sexting victimization and perpetration, respectively. Temporal stability over 1 year was .26 for sextortion victimization, .19 for nonconsensual sexting victimization, .33 for nonconsensual sexting perpetration (all ps < .001), and nonsignificant for sextortion perpetration. The stability of nonconsensual sexting victimization was significantly higher for girls compared to boys, whereas nonconsensual sexting perpetration was more stable over 1 year for boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies must advance the analysis of the predictors and consequences of image-based sexual abuse among adolescents to better prevent this problem. Prevalence of sextortion and nonconsensual sexting is not negligible, and these problems should be particularly addressed in prevention programs.

A Longitudinal Investigation of Observed Adolescent Text-Based Sexting and Adjustment

Despite strong concerns that sexting poses risks for adolescents' well-being, previous research finds mixed results. Moreover, these studies rely heavily on self-report measures and cross-sectional designs. This study utilizes observational methods to examine longitudinal relations between text-based sexting and both negative and positive indicators of psychosocial adjustment. An ethnically diverse sample of 197 adolescents was provided smartphones that captured their text messages across high school, from 2008-2012. Two, two-day samples of text messages from grades 9-12 were content-coded (468,201 total observations). Sexting was defined as sending and receiving text-based statements about past, present, or hypothetical sexual behaviors occurring between dyadic texting partners. Each year, adolescents reported on negative (internalizing, externalizing, and social problems; borderline personality features) and positive (life satisfaction, group belongingness, and positive self-perceptions) indicators of their psychosocial adjustment. Using concurrent and longitudinal multilevel models, greater sexting at one time point than one's average (within-person) was only associated with lower levels of group belongingness within the same year. For girls only, text-based sexting more than others on average (between-person) was related to increased externalizing symptoms and borderline personality disorder features, as well as decreased life satisfaction, group belongingness, self-perceived social competence, and global self-worth. No within-person differences by gender emerged, nor did longitudinal associations. Future studies and intervention efforts should examine when and why higher sexting might be related to psychosocial problems among girls.

How Are Consensual, Non-Consensual, and Pressured Sexting Linked to Depression and Self-Harm? The Moderating Effects of Demographic Variables

Sexting among adolescents has triggered controversial debates among scholars and the general public. However, questions regarding the associations between different types of sexting, namely consensual, non-consensual, and pressured sexting, depressive symptoms, and non-suicidal self-harm remain. In addition, little attention has been given to whether demographic variables (i.e., gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual minority) might influence these associations. To fill these gaps in the literature, the present study was conducted. Participants were 2506 adolescents (ages 13-16 years old; M_age = 15.17; SD_age = 0.89) from eight high schools located in the suburbs of a large Midwestern city in the United States. Adolescents self-identified as female (50%), Caucasian (57%), approximately 15% reported that they had a disability they received school accommodation for, and 18% self-identified as a sexual minority. They completed self-report questionnaires on their sexting behaviors, depressive symptoms, and non-suicidal self-harm. Findings revealed that non-consensual and pressured sexting were positively related to depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-harm, whereas consensual sexting was unrelated to these outcomes. Boys engaged in more non-consensual sexting compared with girls, girls were more pressured to send sexts compared with boys, and sexual minority adolescents reported greater consensual sexting compared with non-sexual minority adolescents. Moderating effects revealed that girls, non-minority adolescents, and non-sexual minority adolescents experienced greater depressive symptoms and non-suicidal self-harm when they experienced pressured sexting. These findings underscore the importance of considering various types of sexting and adolescents' demographic variables when examining the negative outcomes of sexting. Disentangling the relationships among different types of sexting, depressive symptoms, and self-harm aids in the development of evidence-based recommendations for sexting harm prevention and sexual education programs.