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Social-Ecological Examination of Non-Consensual Sexting Perpetration among U.S. Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Alberto Valido

    (School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA)

  • Dorothy L. Espelage

    (School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA)

  • Jun Sung Hong

    (School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA)

  • Matthew Rivas-Koehl

    (Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA)

  • Luz E. Robinson

    (School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA)

Abstract

Adolescent sexting is a serious public health concern and is associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, declining academic performance, and health problems. Effective prevention of sexting requires a comprehensive and deep understanding of the multiple contexts whereby sexting is likely to occur. The present study explores individual and contextual risk and protective factors that are associated with sexting behavior among a large sample of adolescents. Participants were high school students in midwestern U.S. ( N = 2501; LGB n = 309, 76.4% female; non-LGB n = 2192, 47.4% female) who completed self-report measures of sexting and risk (e.g., pornography exposure, impulsivity) and protective (e.g., social support) factors. Path analysis models were conducted with the sexting outcome for groups of LGB and non-LGB students. Among LGB students, results indicated a significant association between sexting and parental monitoring (b = −0.08, p < 0.01); pornography exposure (b = 0.13, p < 0.05); dating partners (b = 0.01, p < 0 .01); bullying perpetration (b = 0.17, p < 0.001); and delinquency (b = 0.13; p < 0.001). Among non-LGB students, significant associations were found between sexting and alcohol/substance use (b = 0.05, p < 0.001); bullying (b = 0.08, p < 0.001); and delinquency (b = 0.06, p < 0.001). Moderation analyses suggest that parental monitoring may have a buffering effect between sexting and several risk factors. Recommendations for practitioners include considering the protective factors of sexting perpetration and encouraging appropriate levels of parental monitoring and the continued importance of bullying and alcohol and drug prevention programming to decrease risk factors of sexting perpetration.

Suggested Citation

  • Alberto Valido & Dorothy L. Espelage & Jun Sung Hong & Matthew Rivas-Koehl & Luz E. Robinson, 2020. "Social-Ecological Examination of Non-Consensual Sexting Perpetration among U.S. Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9477-:d:464034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Cui, Kunjie & To, Siu-ming, 2019. "Migrant status, social support, and bullying perpetration of children in mainland China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    5. Mustanski, B. & Birkett, M. & Greene, G.J. & Hatzenbuehler, M.L. & Newcomb, M.E., 2014. "Envisioning an America without sexual orientation inequities in adolescent health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(2), pages 218-225.
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