Sexting Among Adolescents: The Emotional Impact and Influence of the Need for Popularity

Abstract

Sexting refers to the exchange of sexual content material via technological devices. The definitions of this phenomenon vary greatly, mainly, depending on the types of sexting: primary and secondary. Besides the above, there is no common perspective on whether sexting is a risk behavior that entails some type of impact by itself or not and, in such a case, whether this impact varies according to gender. In addition, the need to be popular has shown to be a factor that could increase the probability of being involved in sexting. The present study analyzes the potential emotional impact of sexting as well as the effect of the need for popularity on this phenomenon and if it varies according to gender. The sample comprised 2,356 high school students (46.8% female, 53.2% male; age range 11–18 years old, M = 13.72; SD = 1.31) belonging to 12 compulsory secondary education (ESO) schools from the south of Spain. To assess sexting implication, four questions were presented to participants (sending, receiving, forwarding, and receiving sexts via intermediary). Scales, self-report, about emotional impact (depressed, annoyed, and active) and need for popularity were also applied. The results obtained show that, although sexting has a clear emotional impact on adolescents, it does not appear to generate a negative impact among those involved, at least in the short term. Concretely, this phenomenon seems to trigger emotions related to activation in boys and girls (I feel lively, energetic, satisfied, ready, determined, active). Additionally, with respect to the need for popularity, its relevance, specially, in relation to active emotional impact has been confirmed by the analyses. Statistical models found for boys and girls were similar. In addition, some differences in emotional impact by gender were found, girls feeling more depressed and annoyed in secondary sexting, and boys more active regarding both types of sexting.

How Are Consensual, Non-Consensual, and Pressured Sexting Linked to Depression and Self-Harm? The Moderating Effects of Demographic Variables

“…Some research has investigated the association between sexting and depression, revealing inconsistent findings. While several studies found a positive association between depressive symptoms and sexting [ 5 , 31 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], other studies showed no significant relationship [ 27 , 43 , 44 , 45 ], and yet other investigations revealed mixed results [ 32 , 46 , 47 ]. For example, Temple et al [ 46 ] found in a sample of 938 adolescents between 14- and 18-years-old that the link between depression and sexting became insignificant after including sexual behavior, age, gender, race/ethnicity, and parent education as control variables.…”

Self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-concept and intimate image diffusion among deaf adolescents: A structural equation model analysis

“…(2015) , as well as Lenhart (2009) , aver that sexting is an interpersonal exchange of self-produced intimate or sexually explicit texts or images (videos, photographs) through internet-enabled smartphones. It is a behaviour that is prevalent among adolescents ( Del Rey et al., 2019 ; Kopecký, 2012 ; Morelli et al, 2016 ) but the rate at which males and females send and receive intimate images or sexually explicit content varies. To date, research reports are yet to provide a conclusion on sex variance in the diffusion of sexual/intimate images ( Del Rey et al., 2019 ; Lenhart, 2009 ; Symons et al., 2018 ; Van den Abeele et al., 2014 ) but sexting remains a behaviour common among adolescents who are in romantic relationships ( Lawrence and Tokede, 2017 ; Samimi and Alderson, 2014 ).…”

El fenómeno del sexting entre los adolescentes españoles: prevalencia, actitudes, motivaciones y variables explicativas

“…The seriousness of the consequences that such behaviours have on the adolescent's overall development together with its high prevalence show the need to draw up and implement preventive strategies (Del Rey, Ojeda, Casas, Mora-Merchán, & Elipe, 2019;INTECO, 2011). In order to produce them correctly, however, it is first necessary to know which factors influence on the initiation and maintenance of this practice (Alonso, Rodríguez, Lameiras, & Martínez, 2017).…”