TY - JOUR
T1 - A social-ecological approach to understanding adolescent sexting behavior
AU - Hunter, Simon C.
AU - Russell, Kirsten
AU - Pagani, Stefania
AU - Munro, Lindsey
AU - Pimenta, Sofia M.
AU - Marín-López, Inmaculada
AU - Hong, Jun Sung
AU - Knifton, Lee
N1 - Acceptance in SAN
Acceptance date from webpage (different from email), changed from '13 Mar 2021' - CR (25/05/21)
AAM: apply 12m embargo (N/A - published OA. ET 9/6/21)
Author has added link to data/project materials on OSF repository. ST 15/03/21
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - This study examined the extent to which active and passive sexting behaviors are associated with family-, school-, peer- and romantic-level variables. Young people (N = 3,322; 49.1% female, 48.3% male, 2.6% other) aged 11 to 15 years old (M = 12.84, SD = 0.89) took part, and all attended mainstream secondary schools in Scotland. Participants completed self-report measures of school connectedness, parental love and support, perceived susceptibility to peer- and romantic-pressure (e.g., to display behaviors just to impress others), and their involvement in active and passive sexting. The importance of both school- and family-level factors was evident, though perceived romantic-pressure had the largest effect. However, neither school- nor family-level variables were moderated by either perceived romantic-pressure or perceived peer-pressure. Efforts to reduce sexting or increase its safety should primarily seek to tackle young people’s ability to respond effectively to romantic-pressure. It may also be helpful to develop school connectedness and to help families provide support that is constructive and not intrusive.
AB - This study examined the extent to which active and passive sexting behaviors are associated with family-, school-, peer- and romantic-level variables. Young people (N = 3,322; 49.1% female, 48.3% male, 2.6% other) aged 11 to 15 years old (M = 12.84, SD = 0.89) took part, and all attended mainstream secondary schools in Scotland. Participants completed self-report measures of school connectedness, parental love and support, perceived susceptibility to peer- and romantic-pressure (e.g., to display behaviors just to impress others), and their involvement in active and passive sexting. The importance of both school- and family-level factors was evident, though perceived romantic-pressure had the largest effect. However, neither school- nor family-level variables were moderated by either perceived romantic-pressure or perceived peer-pressure. Efforts to reduce sexting or increase its safety should primarily seek to tackle young people’s ability to respond effectively to romantic-pressure. It may also be helpful to develop school connectedness and to help families provide support that is constructive and not intrusive.
KW - sexting
KW - school connectedness
KW - parenting
KW - peer-pressure
KW - romantic-pressure
UR - https://osf.io/2evg4/
U2 - 10.1007/s10508-021-01988-9
DO - 10.1007/s10508-021-01988-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 33982213
SN - 0004-0002
VL - 50
SP - 2347
EP - 2357
JO - Archives of Sexual Behavior
JF - Archives of Sexual Behavior
ER -