Individual differences and developmental trends in sexting motivations

Bianchi, Dora; Morelli, Mara; Baiocco, Roberto; Chirumbolo, Antonio

doi:10.1007/s12144-019-00398-4

Cited by 52 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Despite the low percentages, the extent of these behaviors should be considered alarming and cause for clinical intervention due to the possible severe consequences for psychological well-being. Our findings confirm the previous reports that sexting increases with age during adolescence and young adulthood (Bianchi, Morelli, Baiocco, & Chirumbolo, 2019; Morelli et al, 2016a; Strassberg et al, 2013). During adolescence, sexting can anticipate and facilitate sexual activity (Temple & Choi, 2014), showing a developmental trend congruent to overall sexual behaviors.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Family functioning patterns predict teenage girls’ sexting

Bianchi

Morelli

Baiocco

et al. 2019

International Journal of Behavioral Development

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Online exchange of sexual content (“sexting”) is associated with potentially negative consequences, especially for girls. We investigated possible associations between family functioning and girls’ sexting. Italian teenage girls ( N = 250; Mage = 16.36 years; SDage = 1.88) completed online surveys that evaluated family functioning (communication, flexibility, cohesion, disengagement, chaos, enmeshment, and rigidity) and five sexting behaviors: (a) engaging in sexting, (b) sexting with a partner, (c) number of people with whom girls share sexts, (d) nonconsensual forwarding of sexts, and (e) sexting for emotion regulation. We found that engaging in sexting, sexting for emotion regulation, and the number of people with whom girls share sexts were predicted by age and low family communication. Sexting with a partner was predicted by age and high flexibility, and nonconsensual forwarding of sexts was positively predicted by enmeshment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Family functioning patterns predict teenage girls’ sexting

Bianchi

Morelli

Baiocco

et al. 2019

International Journal of Behavioral Development

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“…Various studies consider sexism, especially hostile sexism, as a predictor of violence or cyber-violence in the couple [ 33 , 73 ]. International literature also links sexting practices to cyberstalking in couples [ 6 ], but this is the first study to relate all these variables.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intimate Partner Cyberstalking, Sexism, Pornography, and Sexting in Adolescents: New Challenges for Sex Education

Castro

Martínez-Román

Ruido

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Background: Within the context of the widespread use of technologies by adolescents, the objectives of this study were to identify the perpetrators of intimate partner cyberstalking (IPCS) in adolescents; to analyze the relationship between IPCS and gender, age, sexting behaviors, pornography consumption, and ambivalent sexism; and to investigate the influence of the study variables as predictors of IPCS and determine their moderating role. Methods: Participants were 993 Spanish students of Secondary Education, 535 girls and 458 boys with mean age 15.75 (SD = 1.47). Of the total sample, 70.3% (n = 696) had or had had a partner. Results: Boys perform more sexting, consume more pornographic content, and have more hostile and benevolent sexist attitudes than girls. However, girls perpetrate more IPCS than boys. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression indicate that hostile sexism is a predictor of IPCS, as well as the combined effect of Gender × Pornography and Benevolent Sexism × Sexting. Conclusions: it is essential to implement sexual affective education programs in schools in which Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are incorporated so that boys and girls can experience their relationships, both offline and online, in an egalitarian and violence-free way.

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“…In most cases sexting is unrelated to adverse changes in girls' psychological well-being during middle to late adolescence. When frequent sexting and diminished psychological well-being are observed at the same time, educational specialists and clinicians should-in addition to addressing possible peer pressure to sext (Bianchi, Morelli, Baiocco and Chirumbolo, 2019)-pay attention to the adolescent's family dynamics, which may underlie both phenomena. Considering that associations between sexting and lower psychological well-being lack clear directionality, a careful consideration of likely temporal sequence would be essential for efficient intervention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several motives for sexting have been proposed by researchers and clinicians, such as maintaining intimacy within a relationship or flirting as a means of attracting the attention of a potential romantic or sexual partner (Englander, 2012;Henderson, 2011). Sexting may also be part of an experimental phase of sexual and gender development, or the result of pressure from partners or friends (Bianchi, Morelli, Baiocco and Chirumbolo, 2019;Cooper et al, 2016).…”

Section: Adolescent Sexting: Prevalence and Motivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although some adolescents may use sexting for initiating sex with casual partners, existing research demonstrates that it occurs predominantly between romantic partners (Garcia et al, 2016;Klettke et al, 2014). In addition, motivation for sexting can also include the construction and/or reinforcement of body image, particularly among sexual minority youth, and, less frequently, may occur for material/financial reasons (Bianchi, Morelli, Baiocco and Chirumbolo, 2019). These varying motives are not mutually exclusive and speak to multiple factors that influence young people's sexuality.…”

Section: Adolescent Sexting: Prevalence and Motivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is sexting bad for adolescent girls’ psychological well-being? A longitudinal assessment in middle to late adolescence

Burić¹,

Garcia

Štulhofer

2020

New Media & Society

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Sexting, the digital transmission of sexual messages and images, has become a topic of increased interest and concern. Drawing largely on cross-sectional studies, the literature on associations between sexting and psychosocial outcomes remains inconsistent. The current longitudinal study investigated associations between adolescent girls’ sexting and two indicators of psychological well-being: symptoms of depression/anxiety and self-esteem. Responses were collected from a panel sample of 859 female Croatian secondary-school students over a 20-month period, across five classroom-based data collection points. Multi-domain latent growth curve modeling indicated that sexting dynamics were unrelated to changes in psychological well-being. Adverse family environment and, to a lesser extent, participants’ peer conformism were related to more frequent sexting and lower levels of psychological well-being. Our findings support the notion that in general adolescent girls’ sexting may be a (non-pathological) part of sexual development during middle to late adolescence in today’s digital age.

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Individual differences and developmental trends in sexting motivations

Cited by 52 publications

References 63 publications

Family functioning patterns predict teenage girls’ sexting

Family functioning patterns predict teenage girls’ sexting

Intimate Partner Cyberstalking, Sexism, Pornography, and Sexting in Adolescents: New Challenges for Sex Education

Is sexting bad for adolescent girls’ psychological well-being? A longitudinal assessment in middle to late adolescence

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