Sexting by High School Students: An Exploratory and Descriptive Study

Abstract

Recently, a phenomenon known as sexting, defined here as the transfer of sexually explicit photos via cell phone, has received substantial attention in the U.S. national media. To determine the current and potential future impact of sexting, more information about the behavior and the attitudes and beliefs surrounding it must be gathered, particularly as it relates to sexting by minors. The present study was designed to provide preliminary information about this phenomenon. Participants were 606 high school students (representing 98 % of the available student body) recruited from a single private high school in the southwestern U.S. Nearly 20 % of all participants reported they had ever sent a sexually explicit image of themselves via cell phone while almost twice as many reported that they had ever received a sexually explicit picture via cell phone and, of these, over 25 % indicated that they had forwarded such a picture to others. Of those reporting having sent a sexually explicit cell phone picture, over a third did so despite believing that there could be serious legal and other consequences attached to the behavior. Given the potential legal and psychological risks associated with sexting, it is important for adolescents, parents, school administrators, and even legislators and law enforcement to understand this behavior.

Sex(t) Talk: A Qualitative Analysis of Young Adults’ Negotiations of the Pleasures and Perils of Sexting

“…However, other studies have indicated that males were more likely to engage in sexting than females (e.g. Delevi and Weisskirch 2013;Strassberg et al 2013). While females generally do appear to engage in sexting more often based on research findings to date, they have also been found to perceive sexting as more serious and as more likely to generate negative outcomes (e.g.…”

Relación entre el consumo de alcohol y otras drogas y el uso problemático de Internet en adolescentes

“…A pesar de los innumerables beneficios que la evolución tecnológica ha reportado, son muchos los riesgos que pueden derivarse de su mal uso (Livingstone, Haddon, Görzig y Ólafsson, 2011;Muñoz-Miralles et al, 2016;Rial, Golpe, Gómez y Barreiro, 2015;Valkenburg y Peter, 2011). Existen trabajos que no solo alertan del uso abusivo de Internet por parte de los jóvenes (Blinka et al, 2015;Gencer y Koc, 2012) o el acceso incontrolado a contenidos pornográficos, violentos, racistas y sexistas, sino también de las numerosas prácticas de riesgo vinculadas al uso de la Red como el cyberbullying, el sexting o el grooming (Garaigordobil y Aliri, 2013;Strassberg, McKinnon, Sustaíta y Rullo, 2013;Wolak, Finkelhor y Mitchell, 2004). Algunos autores han llegado incluso a referirse a la posibilidad de desarrollar una adicción (Jorgenson, Hsiao y Yen, 2016;Young, 1996) o, cuando menos, un uso problemático de Internet (Anderson, Steen y Stavropoulos, 2016;Shapira et al, 2003).…”

Sexting and Sexual Behavior in At-Risk Adolescents

“…Studies of high school youth have suggested that sending nude or seminude photos is somewhat common, with 18% to 28% endorsing having done so. 7,8 The only study that included early adolescents found that between 1% and 2.5% (depending on the definition of sexting) of Internet users aged 10 to 17 reported having appeared in or created a sexually explicit photo. 9 However, methodologic limitations with this study (eg, interviewing teenagers on the phone with parents present, sampling methods that resulted in a largely white, upper socioeconomic status, 2-parent household sample) 7,8 make it challenging to draw firm conclusions.…”

“…8 Other factors that may differentiate adolescents who sext versus those who do not include being nonheterosexual, white or African American, and older age. [6][7][8] Although research is limited regarding cognitive factors related to sexting, several studies have identified relationships between cognitions and other sex-related behaviors among adolescents. Reports of sexual intentions are related to sexual behaviors among youth with mental health problems, 11,12 but it is unknown whether teenagers with greater intentions to have sex engage in sexting.…”