Abstract
Purpose
To analyze the longitudinal relationships of demographic characteristics (i.e., sex,
age, and sexual orientation), personality traits according to the Big Five model,
and several indicators of psychological adjustment (i.e., depression symptoms, self-esteem,
and problematic Internet use) with sexting behavior among adolescents over 1 year.
Method
A total of 1,208 adolescents (638 girls; mean age = 13.57, SD = 1.09) completed measures
at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up. The relationships among variables were
examined using structural equation modeling.
Results
Out of the sample, 10.7% and 19.2% of adolescents reported producing and sending sexual
content at time 1 (T1) and time 2 (T2), respectively. Higher ages at T1 predicted
more engagement in sexting at T2. Less conscientiousness and more extraversion at
T1 increased T2 sexting. Finally, more depressive symptoms at T1 predicted more sexting
at T2.
Conclusions
Sexting increases significantly over the course of adolescence. Educational efforts
should pay attention to demographic and psychological characteristics of adolescents
to tailor preventive programs and prevent possible negative outcomes of engaging in
sexting.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 29, 2018
Accepted:
May 29,
2018
Received in revised form:
May 28,
2018
Received:
November 24,
2017
Footnotes
Conflicts of Interest: All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.
