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Prevalence of sending, receiving and forwarding sexts among youths: A three-level meta-analysis

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  • Cristian Molla-Esparza
  • Josep-Maria Losilla
  • Emelina López-González

Abstract

By systematic review with a three-level, mixed-effects meta-analysis, this paper examines the prevalence of sexting experiences among youths aimed at analyzing conceptual and methodological moderators that might explain its heterogeneity. A search was conducted of five bibliographic databases and grey literature up until February 2020. The risk of bias in primary studies was assessed. A total of seventy-nine articles met the set inclusion criteria. Mean prevalences for sending, receiving and forwarding sexts were .14 (95% CI: .12, .17), .31 (95% CI: .26, .36) and .07 (95% CI: .05, .09), respectively, expressed as fractions over one. Moderator analyses showed that all sexting experiences increased with age (e.g., the mean prevalence for sending sexts at the age of 12 was .04, whereas, at the age of 16, it was .21) and year of data collection (e.g., the mean prevalence for sending sexts in studies collecting data in 2009 was .07, whereas, in studies collecting data in 2018, it was .33). Subgroup analysis revealed that studies with probabilistic samples led to significantly lower mean prevalences for the sexting experiences of sending (.08, 95% CI: .06, .11), receiving (.19, 95% CI: .15, .24) and forwarding sexts (.04, 95% CI: .03, .07). Self-reported administration procedures also led to more homogeneous prevalence estimates than interviews. Prevalence estimates also varied according to the type of media content (e.g., the mean prevalence for sending sexual text messages was .22, whereas, for sending sexual images or videos, it was .12). Overall, our meta-analysis results suggest high and increasing prevalences of sending and receiving sexts among youths.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristian Molla-Esparza & Josep-Maria Losilla & Emelina López-González, 2020. "Prevalence of sending, receiving and forwarding sexts among youths: A three-level meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0243653
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243653
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    Cited by:

    1. Mara Morelli & Flavio Urbini & Dora Bianchi & Roberto Baiocco & Elena Cattelino & Fiorenzo Laghi & Piotr Sorokowski & Michal Misiak & Martyna Dziekan & Heather Hudson & Alexandra Marshall & Thanh Truc, 2021. "The Relationship between Dark Triad Personality Traits and Sexting Behaviors among Adolescents and Young Adults across 11 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Ng, Mei Yi & Harrison, Anna & Bath, Eraka & Kemp, Kathleen & Galbraith, Katharine & Brown, Larry K. & Tolou-Shams, Marina, 2022. "Sexting and behavioral health in first-time justice-involved adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).

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