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The Impact of Adolescent Internet Addiction on Sexual Online Victimization: The Mediating Effects of Sexting and Body Self-Esteem

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  • Alicia Tamarit

    (Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Konstanze Schoeps

    (Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Montserrat Peris-Hernández

    (Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments of the University of the Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Spain)

  • Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla

    (Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

Adolescents’ problematic use of the internet and the risk of sexual online victimization are an increasing concern among families, researchers, professionals and society. This study aimed to analyze the interplay between adolescents’ addiction to social networks and internet, body self-esteem and sexual–erotic risk behavior online: sexting, sextortion and grooming. While sexting refers to the voluntary engagement in texting sexual–erotic messages, sextortion and grooming are means of sexual–erotic victimization through the use of the internet. Participants were 1763 adolescents (51% girls), aged 12 to 16 years ( M = 14.56; SD = 1.16), from public ( n = 1068; 60.60%) and private ( n = 695; 39.40%) high schools in the Basque Country (Spain). We carried out structural equation modeling (SEM) using Mplus to assess the mediating effects of body self-esteem in the relationship between addiction to social media and internet and sexual–erotic risk behavior. The results showed that internet addiction predicts online sexual victimization; specifically, the best predictors of sexting, sextortion and grooming victimization were symptoms of internet addiction and geek behavior. Body self-esteem and sexting mediated the relationship between internet addiction and sexual online victimization in adolescents. These results highlight the importance of attending to adolescents’ mental health regarding their online behavior, considering the risk and protective factors involved, due to its close association with online sexual victimization.

Suggested Citation

  • Alicia Tamarit & Konstanze Schoeps & Montserrat Peris-Hernández & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2021. "The Impact of Adolescent Internet Addiction on Sexual Online Victimization: The Mediating Effects of Sexting and Body Self-Esteem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4226-:d:537414
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aina M. Gassó & Bianca Klettke & José R. Agustina & Irene Montiel, 2019. "Sexting, Mental Health, and Victimization Among Adolescents: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Daria J. Kuss & Mark D. Griffiths, 2017. "Social Networking Sites and Addiction: Ten Lessons Learned," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Montserrat Peris & Usue de la Barrera & Konstanze Schoeps & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2020. "Psychological Risk Factors that Predict Social Networking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-23, June.
    4. Usue de la Barrera & Konstanze Schoeps & José-Antonio Gil-Gómez & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2019. "Predicting Adolescent Adjustment and Well-Being: The Interplay between Socio-Emotional and Personal Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-17, November.
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    1. Catarina Almeida, Telma & Barreiros, Inês, 2024. "Online grooming among Portuguese adolescents and the COVID-19 lockdown: Relationship with other types of victimization," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Alessandra Ragona & Martina Mesce & Silvia Cimino & Luca Cerniglia, 2023. "Motivations, Behaviors and Expectancies of Sexting: The Role of Defensive Strategies and Social Media Addiction in a Sample of Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.

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