ERIC Number: EJ1369501
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Apr
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-4316
EISSN: EISSN-1552-5449
Sexting as a Predictor of First-Time Sexual Behavior among At-Risk Early Adolescents
Bogner, Jaclyn; Hadley, Wendy; Franz, Daschel; Barker, David H.; Houck, Christopher D.
Journal of Early Adolescence, v43 n4 p516-538 Apr 2023
"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[subscript 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.
Descriptors: Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Photography, At Risk Persons, Early Adolescents, Sexuality, Health Behavior, Prevention, Middle School Students, Public Schools, Urban Schools, Student Behavior, Prediction
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01NR011906