Digital Sexual Communication Among Adolescents: Links with Sociosexual Health Outcomes and Psychosocial Distress

Communication with romantic and sexual partners is important for adolescent well-being. Features of digital media, such as limited social cues and asynchronous messaging, transform social interactions, yet the effects of digital affordances on adolescent partner communication remain unclear. In the current study, U.S. adolescents (n = 404, M age = 15) reported the channel(s) of communication (Exclusively In-Person, Exclusively Digital, Both In-Person and Digital, or No Communication) with their most recent partner about three topics: condom/contraception use, sexual pleasure, and relationship status. They also self-reported condom/contraception use frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction with the same partner, as well as psychosocial distress (i.e., stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms). Exclusively Digital communication was common for discussing sexual pleasure (21.5%) and relationship status (25.7%) with a partner. More participants reported Exclusively Digital communication than Exclusively In-Person communication about all topics. Some in-person communication (Exclusively In-Person or Both In-Person and Digital)-but not Exclusively Digital communication-was associated with more condom/contraception use, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Adolescents with more psychosocial distress were generally more likely to use Exclusively Digital channels to communicate about these topics. Results highlight the need for more work on media affordances and digital sexual communication among adolescent partners.