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El sexting es una nueva forma de interacción sexual en adolescentes que ha sido asociada tanto a problemas psicológicos como comportamientos de riesgo sexual. Aunque varios estudios han examinado la relación entre sexting y rasgos de personalidad, es posible que la asociación con fortalezas del carácter no haya sido explorada. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar cuales fortalezas de carácter podrían funcionar como factores protectores contra la participación en el sexting, controlando otras variables que pueden influenciar en esta relación. Los adolescentes cumplimentaron cuestionarios sobre recursos tecnológicos, sexting activo y fortalezas de carácter. Los resultados de la regresión lineal mostraron que el sexting activo estuvo positivamente relacionado con las fortalezas de curiosidad y humor y negativamente relacionado con justicia y autenticidad. Estos resultados sugieren que programas escolares o familiares que tienen como objetivo la prevención del sexting deben incluir actividades específicas que fomenten el uso positivo de la curiosidad y el humor y que busquen promover la honestidad, el respeto, la justicia y la responsabilidad en el uso de la tecnología para las relaciones interpersonales. Sexting is a new kind of sexual interaction among adolescents that has been linked to both psychological problems and sexual risk behaviors. Although studies have examined the relationship between sexting and personality traits, its possible association with character strengths remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to analyze which character strengths may function as protective factors against engagement in sexting, controlling for other variables that might influence this relationship. Adolescents completed questionnaires about technological resources, active sexting, and character strengths. The results from hierarchical regression showed that active sexting was positively related to the strengths of curiosity and humor and negatively related to fairness and authenticity. These findings suggest that school- or family-based programs aimed at preventing sexting should include specific activities that encourage a positive use of curiosity and humor and which seek to promote honesty, respect, fairness, and responsibility in the use of technology for interpersonal relationships

There is empirical evidence that life satisfaction (LS) in adolescence is associated with adequate development and future well-being. Research into the factors underpinning LS can therefore help to promote healthier development of societies. The aim of this study was to extend knowledge about LS among adolescents in Ecuador, a Latin American country for which research on this topic is lacking. Specifically, we analyze the relationship between LS and character strengths, controlling for gender, age, socioeconomic status, and family structure. Participants were 659 adolescents (43.1% female) aged between 12 and 18 years who completed the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) and the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Y). Their parents or legal guardians completed the Survey of Socioeconomic Stratification (SSES). Correlation analysis and regression modeling were performed. Results showed that LS was not related to age or socioeconomic status, but there was a significant association with gender and family structure, insofar as boys and adolescents living in intact families reported higher levels of LS. Overall, the majority of character strengths were positively related to LS. After eliminating overlap between strengths and controlling for sociodemographic variables, the strengths of hope, zest, love, and prudence significantly predicted LS. We discuss how these strengths, related to the cognitive component of well-being, may play a protective role against difficulties during adolescence. Character strengths-based interventions are proposed to promote healthy development in Ecuadorian adolescents.