Body image self-consciousness and sexting among heterosexual and non-exclusively heterosexual individuals. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howard, Dominika; Klettke, Bianca; Clancy, Elizabeth; Fuelscher, Ian; Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew
• Is Part Of: New media & society. Volume 23:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 1217
• Page End: 1235
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Sexting -- body image self-consciousness -- LGBTQI+ -- pressure -- coercion -- sexual risk-taking -- sexual preoccupation; Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Internet -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 302.2305
• DOI: 10.1177/1461444820909469
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-4448

Abstract

This study sought to explore whether body image self-consciousness during sexual relations predicts whether and for what reasons individuals send sexts. A series of ordinal and binary logistic regression analyses revealed that increased body image self-consciousness during sexual relations predicted consensual but unwanted instances of sexting for men and women, a lower frequency of sending sexts among heterosexual individuals, and a lesser likelihood of sending sexts in order to flirt. Body image self-consciousness, however, was not predictive of sending sexts in general or sending sexts in order to 'feel sexy'. This research provides support for the negative relationship between body image self-consciousness and sexual agency across gender, and suggests that individuals affected by body image anxieties might be prone to technology-mediated abuse. Study limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.