Longitudinal Association Between Teen Sexting and Sexual Behavior

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Cross-sectional research indicates that teen sexting is common, may be associated with other adolescent behaviors such as substance use, does not appear to be a marker of mental well being, and is probably an indicator of actual sexual behaviors. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:Although mounting evidence links teen sexting to sexual behavior, little is known about the temporal sequencing of these 2 behaviors. Knowing which comes first will aid tween-and teen-focused health care providers in their interaction with patients and patients' parents. abstract BACKGROUND: This study examines the temporal sequencing of sexting and sexual intercourse and the role of active sexting (sending a nude picture) in mediating the relationship between passive sexting (asking or being asked for a nude picture) and sexual behaviors.METHODS: Data are from Wave 2 (spring 2011) and Wave 3 (spring 2012) of an ongoing 6-year longitudinal study of high school students in southeast Texas. Participants included 964 ethnically diverse adolescents with a mean age of 16.09 years (56% female; 31% African American, 29% Caucasian, 28% Hispanic, 12% other). Retention rate for 1-year follow-up was 93%. Participants self-reported history of sexual activity (intercourse, risky sex) and sexting (sent, asked, been asked). Using path analysis, we examined whether teen sexting at baseline predicted sexual behavior at 1-year follow-up and whether active sexting mediated the relationship between passive sexting and sexual behavior. RESULTS:The odds of being sexually active at Wave 3 were 1.32 times larger for youth who sent a sext at Wave 2, relative to counterparts. However, sexting was not temporally associated with risky sexual behaviors. Consistent with our hypothesis, active sexting at Wave 2 mediated the relationship between asking or being asked for a sext and having sex over the next year.CONCLUSIONS: This study extends cross-sectional literature and supports the notion that sexting fits within the context of adolescent sexual development and may be a viable indicator of adolescent sexual activity.

Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents

“…It is estimated that ∼12% of youth aged 10 to 19 years have ever sent a sexual photo to someone else. 44 The Internet also has created opportunities for the exploitation of children by sex offenders through social networking, chat rooms, e-mail, and online games. 45 …”

Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

“…Because of the more distant and asynchronic nature of digital communication, it might make some users more comfortable to express their emotions and sexual desires though digital sexually explicit messages, as opposed to in-person contact (Van Ouytsel et al 2017). Research has also found that sexting among adolescents could function as a first step towards sexual activity, as it has been found to precede and co-occur with offline forms of sexual contact (Kosenko et al 2017;Temple and Choi 2014). Longitudinal research has shown that sexting is significantly more likely to precede offline sexual activity, but not sexual risk behavior, among adolescents.…”

“…Longitudinal research has shown that sexting is significantly more likely to precede offline sexual activity, but not sexual risk behavior, among adolescents. Some adolescents could use sexting to indicate their willingness to engage in offline sexual behavior or they could use it to indicate their readiness to take the relationship further (Temple and Choi 2014). Among adults, sexting has also been found as way to engage in sexual hook-ups (Dir et al 2013).…”

Online Sexual Behaviours Among Swedish Youth : Characteristics, Associations and Consequences

“…Youth who are sexters are more sexually active (Dake et al, 2012;Dir et al, 2013;Houck, Barker, Rizzo, Hancock, Norton, & Brown, 2014;Rice et al, 2014;Sorbring et al, 2014) and became sexually active earlier in life (Englander, 2012;Rice et al, 2014;Perkins et al, 2014). In a recent six-year longitudinal study (Temple & Choi, 2014), data were used from wave 2 (spring 2011) and 3 (spring 2012). Participants included 964 adolescents with a mean age of 16.…”

“…However, research shows that sexual communication in text or through pictures or films is often seen as part of dating behaviour (e.g. Temple & Choi, 2014). In a recent Swedish study (Sorbring et al, 2014), online and offline sexual and romantic activities were investigated in relation to wellbeing.…”