Emotional Problems, Dark Personality, Sexting and Grooming in Adolescents: the role of Gender and Age

Abstract

The present study aimed to study if emotional problems (depression and anxiety) and Dark Personality were predictors of sexting and grooming, and if this behavior differs by gender and age. A sample of 728 adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age (38% male) from three private high schools located in Buenos Aires and Paraná, Argentina, was drawn. They completed a Sexting questionnaire, the Questionnaire for Online Sexual Solicitation and Interaction of Minors with Adults for grooming behavior, Rosenberg Scale of Psychosomatic Symptoms, the Kovacs Depression Inventory for Children and the Dirty Dozen for dark personality traits. Results showed that 12% of adolescents admitted having carried out a sexting behavior. Sending written messages of a sexual nature (11%) and photos (10%) were the most prevalent ways, followed by videos (4%), but no differences were detected according to gender. Significant predictors of sexting and the size of its explained variance ranged by gender (R² = 47% for females and R² = 12% for men, respectively). In the case of females, older age and psychopathy were the significant predictors. In the case of males, less anxiety was the significant predictors. A structural model explained a variance of 6% for sexting and 21% for grooming, indicating that there was no inavariance, according to gender. Linear regressions to predict grooming from sexting also suggested this relationship was moderated by gender.

Psychometric properties of the Intimate Partner Cyberstalking Scale in Argentinean adults

“…Thus, individuals who are connected to social networks for a long time or using new technologies may engage in cyberstalking behaviors. Some studies have found that simply using the internet for several hours a day not including compulsive use that affects the subject psychosocially was associated with cyberstalking problems towards the couple (Resett et al, 2019), as well as the behavior of fear of missing out and use of new technologies (Silva Santos et al, 2023). Besides, the association between cyberstalking and trolling can be explained by this phenomenon of disinhibition and anonymity; it is also possible that subjects with a certain psychosocial profile impulsivity, low pleasantness or high levels of dark personality engage in aversive behaviors, such as trolling and cyberstalking.…”

“…Gender, age, city of residence, love couple situation y two questions were taken, one about daily cell phone use and the other about daily internet use, which had the following alternatives: nothing, 23 hours, 48 hours and more than 8 from the internet, which were scored as 0, 1, 2 and 3. These items were used in other studies showing their reliability and validity (Resett et al, 2019). Both questions showed good consistency.…”

Conductas sobre sexting en adolescentes mexicanos de secundaria y preparatoria

“…La práctica del sexting no es un problema de seguridad en sí, pero sí un problema de riesgo, en el que es muy importante la ciberseguridad que exista en los dispositivos. Esta práctica se realiza entre pares, aunque si se trata de un adulto y un niño, niña o adolescente, se relaciona al grooming (Resett, et al, 2022;Schoeps, et al, 2020;Machimbarrena, et al, 2018). Es fundamental saber que este tipo de exhibiciones del propio cuerpo, aunque sean voluntarias, al tener imágenes con contenido sexualmente explícito o pornográfico tendrá consecuencias legales, ya que puede ser considerado producción, posesión o distribución de pornografía infantil (Guardia Nacional, 2022; Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión, 2021).…”