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Sext Dissemination: Differences across Nations in Motivations and Associations

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth M. Clancy

    (School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East 3125, Australia)

  • Bianca Klettke

    (School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East 3125, Australia)

  • Angela M. Crossman

    (Department of Psychology, John Jay College, City University of New York, 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019, USA)

  • David J. Hallford

    (School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East 3125, Australia)

  • Dominika Howard

    (School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East 3125, Australia)

  • John W. Toumbourou

    (School of Psychology, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong 3220, Australia)

Abstract

Sext dissemination presents policy and legislative challenges given its potential psychological, social, and legal harms. We report on a cross-national comparison of sext-image dissemination in a large sample of 1148 young adults aged 18–29 years (M = 22.54, SD = 2.50, 53.0% women, 47.0% men), either U.S. (53.8%) or Australian (46.2%) residents. The results indicate that 14% of young adults disseminated sexts, with no difference by gender or country. Over 50% of respondents indicated that the last time they received a disseminated sext, it was unexpected or unwelcome, with women twice as likely as men to receive unwelcome sexts. The most frequent motivations for sext dissemination were similar cross-nationally, relating to the attractiveness of the person depicted, as a joke, to gossip, because it was not a big deal, bragging, roasting or teasing, and to increase social status. Motivations of attractiveness, bragging, or social status were more commonly endorsed by men, while women endorsed reasons around gossip or roasting/teasing. Unique predictors of sext dissemination included U.S. residence, requesting sexts, receiving disseminated sexts, having one’s own images disseminated, and more positive subjective norms to dissemination, and there was a country–gender interaction, where Australian women and U.S. men were more likely to disseminate sexts than then U.S. women or Australian men. The findings have implications for prevention programs seeking to address harmful online sexual interactions, including addressing respect, consent, and subjective norms supporting non-consensual dissemination.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth M. Clancy & Bianca Klettke & Angela M. Crossman & David J. Hallford & Dominika Howard & John W. Toumbourou, 2021. "Sext Dissemination: Differences across Nations in Motivations and Associations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2429-:d:508991
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura Louise Nicklin & Emma Swain & Joanne Lloyd, 2020. "Reactions to Unsolicited Violent, and Sexual, Explicit Media Content Shared over Social Media: Gender Differences and Links with Prior Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-9, June.
    2. Wood, Marsha & Barter, Christine & Stanley, Nicky & Aghtaie, Nadia & Larkins, Cath, 2015. "Images across Europe: The sending and receiving of sexual images and associations with interpersonal violence in young people's relationships," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 149-160.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aina M. Gassó & Katrin Mueller-Johnson & Esperanza L. Gómez-Durán, 2021. "Victimization as a Result of Non-Consensual Dissemination of Sexting and Psychopathology Correlates: An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-13, June.

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