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Related Experiment Videos

Sexting and the Definition Issue.

Yara Barrense-Dias1, André Berchtold2, Joan-Carles Surís1

  • 1Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
|July 24, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Sexting among youths is complex, with varied definitions impacting prevalence rates. Understanding these definitions is key for effective prevention strategies against negative consequences like cyberbullying.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Media Studies

Background:

  • Sexting among youths is a growing concern due to potential negative outcomes such as humiliation, cyberbullying, and harassment.
  • Technological advancements, media attention, and increasing prevalence rates have heightened research interest in sexting.
  • A lack of a clear, universally accepted definition complicates research and prevention efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze the diverse definitions of sexting employed in existing literature.
  • To examine the correlates associated with sexting behaviors among adolescents.
  • To highlight the need for definitional consensus to accurately assess sexting and develop targeted interventions.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature review was conducted, searching nine databases for studies on sexting in individuals up to 18 years of age.
Keywords:
AdolescentsCharacteristicsDefinitionReviewSextingYouths

Related Experiment Videos

  • Eighteen studies published between 2012 and 2015 were included in the analysis.
  • Key elements assessed included actions (sending, receiving, forwarding), media types (text, images, videos), sexual characteristics, and transmission modes.

    • Main Results:

    • Prevalence rates of sexting varied significantly (0.9%–60%), influenced by differing definitions.
    • Studies predominantly focused on sending sexts; however, receiving sexts showed higher prevalence when both sending and receiving were measured.
    • Associations were found between sexting and factors such as age, gender, race, sexual behavior, relationships, risk-taking, online activity, psychological issues, and social pressure.

    Conclusions:

    • Establishing a consensus on the definition of sexting is crucial for accurate assessment and effective prevention strategies.
    • Adolescents' perceptions of sexting are important, as it can be a consensual sexual behavior.
    • Prevention should prioritize addressing sexting when content is shared without consent, or occurs under duress or harassment.