Sexting as a Predictor of First-Time Sexual Behavior Among At-Risk Early Adolescents. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bogner, Jaclyn; Hadley, Wendy; Franz, Daschel; Barker, David H.; Houck, Christopher D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of early adolescence. Volume 43:Number 4(2023)
• Page Start: 516
• Page End: 538
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: sexting -- sexual risk behavior -- early adolescence -- internet; Adolescence -- United States -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 305.235
• DOI: 10.1177/02724316221113351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4316

Abstract

"Sexting" (electronic transmission of sexual pictures/messages) among early adolescents is associated with early sexual activity, a marker of increased sexual risk. The current study is a secondary analysis that examined the longitudinal relationship between sexting and first-time sex among a sample of early adolescents deemed "at risk" due to behavioral or emotional problems. Adolescents participated in a longitudinal sexual risk prevention trial and completed questionnaires assessing demographics, unsupervised peer time, mental health, and participation in sexting, oral sex, and penetrative sex (vaginal/anal). Analyses included 343 early adolescents ( M age = 12.89, 51% female, 77% racial/ethnic minority) with no history of oral or penetrative sex. Those who reported sexting at baseline were more likely to report first-time oral and/or penetrative sex by the 1-year follow-up. Exploratory analyses revealed that sexting predicted those who had engaged in both oral and penetrative sex. These findings highlight the need to address sexting in risk prevention.