We do not see throughout the latest investigation if the adolescents’ sexual experiences and you may involvement for the high-risk intimate conclusion preceded or used sexting behaviors. Longitudinal studies that clearly take into account enough time sequence are essential. Concurrently, questions on sexting had been setup for this data and weren’t vetted by teenagers, probably restricting the legitimacy of your findings. I and didn’t inquire about the newest label from which youngsters sexted, just who required a good sext, and not as much as what requirements sexting occurred. Coming lookup, along with qualitative education, will include contextual concerns. In addition, conclusions away from 18 12 months olds is interpreted having caution due for the seemingly small number of such people within take to. In the end, even though the attempt stands for a varied cross-section of college students out of several higher colleges/districts, you’ll be able to you to definitely regional differences influenced frequency quotes. Even with such limitations, the present day analysis is one of the first to look at the latest frequency and you can characteristics regarding sexting from inside the a racially and you may ethnically varied college-built attempt, and to show a match up between sexting and you can intimate choices.

Results

While some distinctions were listed when it comes to intercourse, decades, and you can competition/ethnicity, it’s obvious you to definitely teenager sexting is actually prevalent among teenagers. More than a quarter off family in the current decide to try said giving a naked picture of themselves to some other teenager, and over 1 / 2 of were requested to send you to. Possibly extremely advising is the finding that teenagers who have participated within the sexting was in fact substantially more probably statement a history of sexual activity (having boys and girls) and high-risk sexual decisions (for women). The usage of cell phones and you may texting has increased easily for the past 5 years, as well as the chronilogical age of mobile possession is continuously young. sixteen,27 Therefore it is crucial one to pediatricians, adolescent treatments professionals, or any other medical care company analyze, regularly enquire about, and you will can address teen sexting.

Acknowledgments

Dr. Forehead is actually supported by Prize Matter K23HD059916 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Federal Institute out of Boy Wellness & Individual Innovation. Dr. van den Berg try backed by Honor Number K23HD06326102 regarding the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Federal Institute off Boy Wellness & Peoples Invention. The message is only the responsibility of your own article writers and you will do never portray the state viewpoints of your own Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute from Child Health & Peoples Development or perhaps the federal Institutes away from Health. This research was also made possible that have resource in order to Dr. Temple from the Hogg Basis getting Mental health (JRG-082) and also the John Sealy Memorial Endowment Loans to own Biomedical Lookup. Dr. Temple possess complete access to all the data from the analysis and you can requires duty to the integrity of data therefore the reliability of the studies studies. Which work do not have been you can without having any consent and you may help of the new universities and you will college or university districts.

Footnotes

That have light and you can equivocal empirical investigation, pediatricians, policy-producers, universities and you may moms and dads was handicapped from the decreased information regarding the sort and significance of teen sexting. Plus the the latter legal ramifications and you will prospect of intimidation, sexting tends to be a risk factor to own or a sign off high-risk intimate behavior. Considering the not enough prior knowledge, it’s not sure how the newest choices suits for the domain name of adolescent relationships and you will intimate behaviors. Hence, the goal of this research are a couple-fold. Very first, i identify the brand new incidence and explain the kind from sexting (given that transmitter and you may receiver) certainly a huge ethnically diverse university-centered try regarding teens. Due to the fact novelty regarding the issue suppresses us away from and make certain empirically-guided hypotheses, i welcome you to definitely sexting habits tend to disagree by the intercourse, end up being an expansion from teens’ life, and will co-occur with regards to sexual (dating) and intimate (gender, high-risk gender) behaviors.