Sexting, Risk Behavior, and Mental Health in Adolescents: An Examination of 2015 Pennsylvania Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data

Frankel, Anne; Bass, Sarah Bauerle; Patterson, Freda; Dai, Ting; Brown, D B

doi:10.1111/josh.12596

Cited by 77 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…While much of the research into sexting has focused on the legal implications and consequences, researchers have also explored correlations between sexting and exposure to risk behaviours or negative health outcomes (Lippman & Campbell, 2014). Studies have linked sexting behaviours with a range of high-risk behaviours, for example, increased alcohol use (Dir, Cyders, & Coskunpinar, 2013) and unsafe sexual relations (Crimmins & Seigfried-Spellar, 2014) and negative mental health symptoms, including suicidal ideation and attempts and feeling sad or hopeless (Dake et al, 2012;Frankel, Bass, Dai, & Brown, 2018). Given such associations between sexting and high risk behaviours, it is important to further explore the factors that may influence this behaviour.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the widespread prevalence of sexting behaviours (as noted above, with sending of sexts ranging from 20.5% to 75%, for young adults; Klettke et al, 2014), and with reported prevalence rates of mental health disorders in young adults of 26% (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2007), it is likely that there is a significant overlap between those engaged in sexting and those experiencing mental health disorders. Given the potential negative mental health implications of sexting identified in other studies (Dake et al, 2012;Frankel et al, 2018), it is important to continue research on this relationship (Klettke et al, 2014). Such research will assist health professionals to understand the circumstances around sexting and psychological wellbeing, and allow them to better identify and support individuals experiencing negative mental health symptoms (Temple, Van Den Berg, Ling, Paul, & Temple, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexting and mental health: A study of Indian and Australian young adults

Klettke¹,

Mellor²,

Silva-Myles³

et al. 2018

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The objective of this study was to examine engagement in sexting by young adults in India and Australia, and depression, anxiety and stress as risk factors for sending sexts. A total of 298 young Australian adults (Mage = 19.98 years, 75.50% female) and 300 young Indian adults (Mage = 18.08 years, 56.33% female) completed a survey (online and hardcopy) assessing sending and receiving of sexts, and mental health. Australian males were more likely to have sent sexts than Indian males, whilst Australian females were more likely to have both sent and received sexts than Indian females. Indian males were more likely than Indian females to have sent and received sext messages. Higher levels of stress were associated with sending sexts for participants overall, and for Indian respondents, but not Australians when analysed separately. For males overall, higher levels of stress and lower levels of depression were associated with sending sexts, whilst for females, there were no associations with mental health variables, but higher age was associated with sending sexts. Sexting behaviours may be associated with cultural values and vary by gender in more traditional contexts. Further investigation into associations between psychological distress and the probability of sending a sext are warranted.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexting and mental health: A study of Indian and Australian young adults

Klettke¹,

Mellor²,

Silva-Myles³

et al. 2018

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“…In the Youth Risk Behavior Survey on 9th-12 th grade students (N=6021), sexting was significantly more prevalent in students who reported electronic bullying (OR=1.46) (Frankel, et al, 2018). As the authors suggested, further research is needed to clarify the temporality of the associations between sexting and cyberbullying..…”

Section: Comorbid Addictionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several problems related to the reporting on prevalence include the use of different recruitment strategies, different assessment measures and the psychosocial and legal risks associated with reporting sexting. In a cross-sectional study on 6021 9 th -12 th grade students from Pennsylvania, 29% reported consensual sexting, while only 3% reported nonconsensual sexting, suggesting that the majority of students who are sexting each other at least know each other (Frankel, Bass, Patterson, Dai & Brown, 2018). Female students were 49% less likely to report sexting, and sexting was significantly more prevalent in students who had engaged in cyberbullying, who had depressive symptoms, who had current tobacco and alcohol use and who were involved in sexual activity.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Adolescent Sextingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Male gender is the most frequently reported demographic risk factor for sexting behavior. Examples of this risk factor have been given in many survey studies in the U.S. and other countries, For example, in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey on 9th-12 th grade students (N=6021), female students were 49% less likely than males to report consensual sexting (Frankel, et al, 2018). And, male students who reported sexting were more likely to engage in other risk behaviors including cyberbullying, sexual activity and alcohol use.…”

Section: Demographic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adolescent Sexting: A Narrative Review

Field¹

2019

IJPRR

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This narrative review is based on a literature search on PsycIN-FO and PubMed that involved entering the terms adolescent sexting for papers published during the last five years. Following exclusion criteria, 52 papers could be classified as sexting studies including research on the prevalence, effects/comorbidities, risk factors and interventions for those problems. Most of the studies have been conducted in the U.S. where the prevalence of sexting has ranged from 5% to 29%. Sexting has typically been consensual, or at least the recipient has been known, although some forwarding of sext messages has occurred. The effects of sexting have included sexual activity, problematic relationships, mental health problems, other addictions and legal problems. The predictor or risk variables have included male gender, extraverted personality, low self-esteem, depression, impulsivity, peer pressure and the lack of parental monitoring. Like other literature on adolescent problems, this research is limited by primarily deriving from self-report and parent report and by the absence of longitudinal data that might inform whether the data being reported are effects of or risk factors for adolescent sexting and the need for prevention/intervention research.

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Association of Sexting With Sexual Behaviors and Mental Health Among Adolescents

et al. 2019

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IMPORTANCE Sexting is the exchange of sexual messages, photographs, or videos via technological devices and is common and increasing among youth. Although various studies have examined the association between sexting, sexual behaviors, and mental health, results are mixed. OBJECTIVE To provide a meta-analytic synthesis of studies examining the associations between sexting, sexual behavior, and mental health using sex, age, publication date, and study methodological quality as moderators. DATA SOURCES Electronic searches were conducted in April 2018 in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science, yielding 1672 nonduplicate records. STUDY SELECTION Studies were included if participants were younger than 18 years and an association between sexting and sexual behaviors or mental health risk factors was examined. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS All relevant data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to derive odds ratios (ORs). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Sexual behavior (sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, lack of contraception use) and mental health risk factors (anxiety/depression, delinquent behavior, and alcohol, drug use, and smoking). RESULTS Participants totaled 41 723 from 23 included studies. The mean (range) age was 14.9 (11.9-16.8) years, and 21 717 (52.1%) were female. Significant associations were observed between sexting and sexual activity (16 studies; OR, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.71-4.92), multiple sexual partners (5 studies; OR, 5.37; 95% CI, 2.72-12.67), lack of contraception use (6 studies; OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.08-4.32), delinquent behavior (3 studies; OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.29-4.86), anxiety/depression (7 studies; OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.41-2.28), alcohol use (8 studies; OR, 3.78; 95% CI, 3.11-4.59), drug use (5 studies; OR, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.24-5.40), and smoking behavior (4 studies; OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.88-3.76). Moderator analyses revealed that associations between sexting, sexual behavior, and mental health factors were stronger in younger compared to older adolescents. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this meta-analysis suggest that sexting is associated with sexual behavior and mental health difficulties, especially in younger adolescents. Longitudinal research is needed to assess directionality of effects and to analyze the mechanisms by which sexting and its correlates are related. Educational campaigns to raise awareness of digital health, safety, and security are needed to help youth navigate their personal, social, and sexual development in a technological world.

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Sexting, Risk Behavior, and Mental Health in Adolescents: An Examination of 2015 Pennsylvania Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data

Cited by 77 publications

References 29 publications

Sexting and mental health: A study of Indian and Australian young adults

Sexting and mental health: A study of Indian and Australian young adults

Adolescent Sexting: A Narrative Review

Association of Sexting With Sexual Behaviors and Mental Health Among Adolescents

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