Sexual Communication in the Digital Age

Drouin, Michelle

doi:10.1002/9781118771952.ch10

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…At the same time, there is scant evidence of valid and reliable measures for evaluating the effectiveness of digital sexual health interventions. Despite preliminary studies investigating the effect of digital sexual communication on condom self-efficacy and use, there is limited evidence of validated measures to study this effect [ 9 , 10 ]. This knowledge gap impedes researchers’ understanding of why and how today’s adolescents are deploying digital sexual communication to negotiate for safer sex.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study contributes to the current sexting, digital sexual communication, and sexual health literature by modifying and validating a gender-sensitive measure that evaluates adolescents’ attitudes about using sexting to negotiate for condom use. Drawing from sexting literature [ 9 , 10 , 28 ], we hypothesized that adolescents who engage in sexting might demonstrate higher rates of condom use, as indicated by their low levels of embarrassment in using sexting to negotiate condom use. Using our adapted CuNET scale (ie, low embarrassment to negotiate and discuss condom use over sexting), we compared support for condom negotiation via sexting across gender among a sample of forcibly displaced adolescents in Kampala, Uganda, and tested the relationship between the CuNET scale and sexual health outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Support for Texting-Based Condom Negotiation Among Forcibly Displaced Adolescents in the Slums of Kampala, Uganda: Cross-sectional Validation of the Condom Use Negotiated Experiences Through Technology Scale

Okumu¹,

Logie²,

Ansong³

et al. 2022

JMIR Public Health Surveill

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Background Promoting sexual health among forcibly displaced adolescents is a global public health priority. Digital sexual communication strategies (eg, sexting) may increase adolescents’ confidence in discussing sexual health issues and negotiating condom use. However, limited evidence exists describing validated measures for text-based condom negotiation in the literature. Objective This study helps fill this gap by adapting and examining the psychometric properties of a condom use experience through technology (condom use negotiated experiences through technology [CuNET]) scale. Methods Using peer network sampling, 242 forcibly displaced adolescents (aged 16-19 years) living in Kampala’s slums were recruited for participation between January and March 2018. A subscale (embarrassment to negotiate condom use) of the Multidimensional Condom Attitudes Scale was adapted to incorporate sexting, yielding CuNET. Participants were randomly assigned to calibration and validation subsamples to conduct exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to establish and validate the scale. CuNET measured participants’ support levels for texting-based condom negotiation via sexting based on gender, and multivariable logistic regression was used to explore its associations with sexual health outcomes (recent consistent condom use, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and lifetime sexually transmitted infection testing). Results The one-factor CuNET with the validation sample was valid (χ24=5.3; P=.26; root mean square error of approximation=0.05, 90% CI 0.00-0.16; comparative fit index=0.99; Tucker-Lewis index=0.99; standardized root mean square residual=0.006), and reliability (Cronbach α=.98). Adolescent girls showed significantly lower levels of support for using sexting to negotiate condom use (mean 13.60, SE 0.70 vs mean 21.48, SE 1.23; P=.001). In multivariable analyses, a 1-point increase in the CuNET score was associated with increased odds of recent consistent condom use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.73, 95% CI 1.24-2.41) but not with access to sexual and reproductive health services (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 0.99-2.30) or lifetime sexually transmitted infection testing (aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.64-1.26). Conclusions The unidimensional CuNET scale is valid and reliable for forcibly displaced adolescents living in slums in Kampala, gender-sensitive, and relevant for predicting consistent condom use among urban displaced and refugee adolescents. Further development of this scale will enable a better understanding of how adolescents use digital tools for condom negotiation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support for Texting-Based Condom Negotiation Among Forcibly Displaced Adolescents in the Slums of Kampala, Uganda: Cross-sectional Validation of the Condom Use Negotiated Experiences Through Technology Scale

Okumu¹,

Logie²,

Ansong³

et al. 2022

JMIR Public Health Surveill

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In fact, a growing body of research now exists examining the ways in which Internet use and addiction relates to Internet sexuality, which includes a variety of behaviors, such as consumption of pornography, visiting online sex chat rooms, and even meeting online partners for offline sexual contact (e.g., Döring, 2009;Griffiths, 2001;Jones & Hertlein, 2012;Judge & Saleh, 2013;Pratarelli & Browne, 2002;Young, 2008). In a separate body of work, researchers have investigated the associations between sexting (i.e., the transmission of sexual material via technological devices) and risky offline sexual behavior among adults (e.g., Benotsch, Snipes, Martin, & Bull, 2013;Crimmins & Seigfried-Spellar, 2014;Dir, Cyders, & Coskunpinar, 2013;Drouin, 2015;Ferguson, 2011;Gordon-Messer, Bauermeister, Grodzinski, & Zimmerman, 2013;Klettke, Hallford, & Mellor, 2014). These studies have produced mixed results, but generally they have found that sexting is related to a variety of offline, risky sexual behaviors, including sex with multiple partners, unprotected sex, and sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%