Active, Passive, and Non-Sexting Adolescents: Testing Deviancy and Normalcy Perspectives Across Risk-Related and...

Two contrasting frameworks have guided research on adolescent sexting. The deviancy perspective regards sexting as a risky behavior. The normalcy perspective acknowledges consensual sexting as a form of sexual expression with potential benefits. Drawing on both perspectives, this study compared adolescents who actively engaged in voluntary sexting (i.e., sent a sext of themselves or others) with those who were only passively (i.e., received, asked, or were asked for a sext, but did not send one) or never involved in sexting. The three groups were compared regarding sexuality-related cognitions, sexual behavior, and depressive symptoms, considering risk- and competence-related variables of sexual development. A sample of 216 adolescents (M_age = 16.93) completed an online questionnaire. Half reported active sexting (AS; active sexters), 16.2% exclusively passive sexting (PS; exclusively passive sexters), and 33.8% no sexting (NS; non-sexters). Supporting the deviancy perspective, AS reported higher levels on all risk-related variables, including risky sexual behavior, risky sexual scripts, acceptance of sexual coercion, perceived realism/utility of pornography, non-violent and violent pornography use, and depressive symptoms, than NS. Several significant differences emerged between AS and PS. Contrary to our hypotheses informed by the normalcy perspective, no significant group differences were found in indicators of sexual competence, namely communication about sexuality, sexual self-esteem, and sexual assertiveness. Results suggest that active sexting is embedded in a broader constellation of risk-related sexual behaviors and cognitions. Potential benefits of sexting may depend on factors not captured in the study, such as relationship context, underscoring the need for future research.