Kanani E Titchen1, Sofya Maslyanskaya1, Ellen J Silver2, Susan M Coupey3. 1. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. 2. Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. 3. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. Electronic address: scoupey@montefiore.org.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To explore whether sexting by young adolescent girls and boys is associated with adverse life experiences including exploitative or violent sexual relationships. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional, anonymous survey of a convenience sample of minor adolescents younger than age 18 years recruited while waiting for care in clinics affiliated with a children's hospital in a low-resource, high-poverty, urban community. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty-five adolescents aged 14-17 years, 63% girls and 37% boys. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured sexting by asking, "Have you ever sent a sexually suggestive or naked picture of yourself to another person through text or e-mail?" The survey also measured risk behaviors, sexual abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), and arrest and included a validated depression scale. RESULTS: Mean age was 15.6 ± 1.1 years; 59% were Hispanic, 28% were black; 44% of girls and 46% of boys ever had sex; 24% of girls and 20% of boys ever sent a sext. More girls than boys reported sexual abuse (16% vs 3%; P < .01), IPV victimization (15% vs 7%; P < .01), and depression (33% vs 17%; P < .01). More boys than girls reported arrest (15% vs 7%; P < .01). Independent associations with sexting for girls were: ever had sex (odds ratio [OR], 4.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.29-9.19; P < .001); sexual abuse (OR, 3.81; 95% CI, 1.80-8.05; P < .001); IPV victim (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.11-6.62; P < .05), and for boys: ever had sex (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 1.47-12.32; P < .01); sexual abuse (OR, 38.48; 95% CI, 1.48-999.46; P < .05); IPV perpetration (OR, 16.73; 95% CI, 1.64-170.75; 95% CI, P < .05), as well as cannabis use, older age, other race, and arrest. CONCLUSION: For young adolescents, sexting is independently associated with exploitative and abusive sexual relationships including sexual abuse and IPV with similarities and differences in predictors of sexting for girls and boys.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To explore whether sexting by young adolescent girls and boys is associated with adverse life experiences including exploitative or violent sexual relationships. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional, anonymous survey of a convenience sample of minor adolescents younger than age 18 years recruited while waiting for care in clinics affiliated with a children's hospital in a low-resource, high-poverty, urban community. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty-five adolescents aged 14-17 years, 63% girls and 37% boys. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured sexting by asking, "Have you ever sent a sexually suggestive or naked picture of yourself to another person through text or e-mail?" The survey also measured risk behaviors, sexual abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), and arrest and included a validated depression scale. RESULTS: Mean age was 15.6 ± 1.1 years; 59% were Hispanic, 28% were black; 44% of girls and 46% of boys ever had sex; 24% of girls and 20% of boys ever sent a sext. More girls than boys reported sexual abuse (16% vs 3%; P < .01), IPV victimization (15% vs 7%; P < .01), and depression (33% vs 17%; P < .01). More boys than girls reported arrest (15% vs 7%; P < .01). Independent associations with sexting for girls were: ever had sex (odds ratio [OR], 4.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.29-9.19; P < .001); sexual abuse (OR, 3.81; 95% CI, 1.80-8.05; P < .001); IPV victim (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.11-6.62; P < .05), and for boys: ever had sex (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 1.47-12.32; P < .01); sexual abuse (OR, 38.48; 95% CI, 1.48-999.46; P < .05); IPV perpetration (OR, 16.73; 95% CI, 1.64-170.75; 95% CI, P < .05), as well as cannabis use, older age, other race, and arrest. CONCLUSION: For young adolescents, sexting is independently associated with exploitative and abusive sexual relationships including sexual abuse and IPV with similarities and differences in predictors of sexting for girls and boys.
Authors: Yolanda Rodríguez-Castro; Rosana Martínez-Román; Patricia Alonso-Ruido; Alba Adá-Lameiras; María Victoria Carrera-Fernández Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-23 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Miriam D Langer; Ellen J Silver; Nancy A Dodson; Hina J Talib; Susan M Coupey Journal: J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol Date: 2020-09-12 Impact factor: 1.814