What are you sexting? Parental practices, sexting attitudes and behaviors among Italian adolescents

Abstract

Background Sexting has recently emerged as a public health and social issue. The present study had two aims: a) to preliminarily test adolescent gender differences on parental practices regarding adolescent online life, parental monitoring, adolescent attitude towards sexting and sexting behaviors; b) to separately test for male and female adolescents a conceptual model in which sexting behaviors are explained by the parental practices and monitoring, with the mediation of adolescent negative attitude towards sexting. Methods Direct and indirect links between the variables in the model were investigated. The study was carried out with 541 participants. Participants were Italian adolescents (60% males; 40% females) aged 14 to 19 years (Mage = 16,19 years, SDage = 1,31). Results Results suggested that females sent more multimedia sexts, had a higher perception of risk associated with sexting and reported higher scores for both parental practices regarding adolescent online life and parental monitoring. Rules on Contents, Parental Knowledge, Adolescent Disclosure, and Parental Control resulted to be linked to both sexting attitudes and behaviors for male and female adolescents. Conclusions Findings emphasize the important role that parents play in shaping attitudes and behaviors of both daughters and sons during adolescence.

What are the predictors of sexting behavior among adolescents? The positive youth development approach

“…However, we did not find Control to be a central variable, meaning that adolescents who feel controlled by parents and those who do not are equally likely to engage in sexting. This is in line with the results by Yépez‐Tito et al (2019) but is in contrast with previous research that found that both authoritarian and overly permissive parents increase the probability of adolescents getting involved in sexting–both actively and passively (Confalonieri et al, 2020; Cuccì, 2017; Dolev‐Cohen & Ricon, 2020).…”

“…In this regard, it should be noted that we did not measure parentchildren dialogue specifically centered around sexuality or sexting. This challenges the suggestion by Confalonieri et al (2020) to equip adults with knowledge and tools to deal specifically with sexuality but, rather, suggests it is the quality and not the content of the discussions that makes the difference among adolescents. On this note, it may be concluded that helping parents gain awareness of how to choose the most appropriate parenting styles is key to help adolescents discuss sexuality and be accountable (Confalonieri et al, 2020;Dolev-Cohen & Ricon, 2020).…”

“…Some authors reported that general parental monitoring and control over technology did not correlate with sexting (Campbell & Park, 2014; Martinez‐Prather & Vandiver, 2014). Other studies found that low social control by parents, high perceptions of a permissive style, but also an authoritarian parenting—high control and high warmth—increase the likelihood of sexting (Confalonieri et al, 2020; Cuccì, 2017). Nevertheless, some also found that parental control does not appear to be a key factor in relation to sexting (Yépez‐Tito et al, 2019).…”

“…Nevertheless, some also found that parental control does not appear to be a key factor in relation to sexting (Yépez‐Tito et al, 2019). Finally, parents who clearly communicate their expectations on sexuality and monitor their children were found to be most influential in supporting their youth's healthy approach to sexuality (Confalonieri et al, 2020; Huebner & Howell, 2003; West et al, 2014). Vanwesenbeeck et al (2018) argue that “parents should communicate about sexting to their adolescents using an autonomy supportive, non‐controlling style” (p. 75).…”

Measurement Invariance across Sexual Orientation for Measures of Sexual Attitudes

“…In this sense, while erotophilia implies an attitude toward sexuality in general, specific sexual attitudes refer to behaviors or specific psychological processes related to sexuality (e.g., attitudes toward sexual fantasies or masturbation). Both erotophilia and attitudes toward specific sexual behaviors are associated with sexual health indicators such as sexual victimization [4][5][6], sexual aggression [7,8], sexual risk behaviors [9,10], the subjective experience of orgasm [11,12], and sexual functioning [3,13,14]. This relationship pattern indicates that sex-positive attitudes are associated with greater desire toward a sexual partner [15][16][17]; greater subjective and objective sexual arousal [18,19]; and greater facility in obtaining orgasm [3], along with greater intensity in its subjective experience [11,20] and greater satisfaction with it [21] as well as greater sexual satisfaction in general [15,22].…”