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Does Sexting Predict Sexual Risk Taking Behavior?
Sexting has become a normative behavior among college students. Few researchers have documented the relationship between sexting and health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sexting is related to risky sexual behaviors among college students.
Methods
Data were collected from undergraduate students using a self-report questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive procedures, factor analysis, and logistic regression by gender using sexting (sent a sext, received a sext, and sent a sexually-charged picture) as the dependent variable.
Results
Results indicated a set of variables that significantly accounted for variation in sexting behaviors for both males and females (p < .05). For males, frequency of receiving manual genital stimulation predicted sending a sext message (β = -.93; p < .05); hooking-up predicted receiving a sext message (β = .35; p < .05); having sexual intercourse under the influence of drugs besides alcohol (β = -.39; p < .01) and masturbation (β = .47; p < .01) predicted sending a sexually-charged picture. For females, STI history (β = 1.81; p < .05) and masturbation (β = .44; p < .001) predicted receiving a sext message; hooking up (β = .48; p < .05), religious beliefs (β = -.94; p < .05), religious peer norms (β = .84; p < .05), and physical fitness (β = -.64; p < .05) predicted sending a sexually-charged picture.
Discussion
Understanding behaviors, such as sexting, are valuable in developing effective intervention programming aimed at enhancing self-esteem and reducing sexual risk-taking on college campuses.
Learning Areas:
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or controlPublic health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the relationship between risky sexual behaviors and sexting.
Explain the need for gender specific health education relative to risky sexual behaviors and sexting.
Discuss the significance of sexting and its impact on a variety of health behaviors.
Keyword(s): Sexual Risk Behavior
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Tina M. Penhollow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Penhollow’s research interests include aging, physical fitness, sexual health, and college student health-risk behavior. Dr. Penhollow has authored or co-authored more than 35 professional research presentations at national and international conferences and has published over 20 manuscripts in national scientific journals.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.