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Motivations, Behaviors and Expectancies of Sexting: The Role of Defensive Strategies and Social Media Addiction in a Sample of Adolescents

Author

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  • Alessandra Ragona

    (Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Rome, Sapienza, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Martina Mesce

    (Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Rome, Sapienza, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Silvia Cimino

    (Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Rome, Sapienza, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Luca Cerniglia

    (Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, 00186 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults engage in sexting behaviors. Research has mainly emphasized the relationship between motivations and sexting behaviors, with little attention paid to sexting expectations and the potential role of coping strategies. This study aims to explore the measure of emotional–behavioral functioning with the Youth/Adult Self Report (based on the subject’s age), the use of defensive strategies measured with the Response Evaluation Measure (REM-71), social media addiction with the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and all dimensions of sexting: motivations, behavior and expectations measured with the Sexting Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ), Sexting Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) and Sexpectancies Questionnaire (SQ), respectively. N = 209 adolescents and young adults were recruited from high schools and universities in Rome to complete the self-report questionnaires. Results show that males tend to have higher expectations of sexting than females. We also found that expectations play a role in determining sexting behaviors and motivations. Our hypotheses on social media addiction and sexting were confirmed, while the relationship between the defensive strategies and sexting was not significant as expected. Further studies on this topic are desirable in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandra Ragona & Martina Mesce & Silvia Cimino & Luca Cerniglia, 2023. "Motivations, Behaviors and Expectancies of Sexting: The Role of Defensive Strategies and Social Media Addiction in a Sample of Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1805-:d:1040401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yoder, Jamie & Hansen, Jesse & Precht, Madison, 2018. "Correlates and outcomes associated with sexting among justice involved youth: The role of developmental adversity, emotional disinhibitions, relationship context, and dating violence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 493-499.
    2. Alicia Tamarit & Konstanze Schoeps & Montserrat Peris-Hernández & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2021. "The Impact of Adolescent Internet Addiction on Sexual Online Victimization: The Mediating Effects of Sexting and Body Self-Esteem," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Reed, Lauren A. & Boyer, Margaret P. & Meskunas, Haley & Tolman, Richard M. & Ward, L. Monique, 2020. "How do adolescents experience sexting in dating relationships? Motivations to sext and responses to sexting requests from dating partners," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    4. Mara Morelli & Flavio Urbini & Dora Bianchi & Roberto Baiocco & Elena Cattelino & Fiorenzo Laghi & Piotr Sorokowski & Michal Misiak & Martyna Dziekan & Heather Hudson & Alexandra Marshall & Thanh Truc, 2021. "The Relationship between Dark Triad Personality Traits and Sexting Behaviors among Adolescents and Young Adults across 11 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-25, March.
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