JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The rapid uptake of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) over the past decade – particularly the smartphone – has coincided with large increases in sexting. Previous Australian studies examining prevalence rates of sexting activities in young people have all relied on convenience or self-selected samples. Concurrently, there have been recent calls to undertake more in-depth research on the relationship between mental health problems, suicidal thoughts and behaviours and sexting. How sexters (including those that receive sexts, send sexts, and two-way sext) and non-sexters apply ICT safety skills warrants further research.

Objective:

To extend the Australian sexting literature by measuring: (1) changes in the frequency of young people’s sexting activities from 2012 to 2014; (2) young people’s beliefs about sexting; (3) the association of demographic, mental health and wellbeing items, and Internet use with sexting activity; and (4) the relationship between sexting and ICT safety skills.

Methods:

Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) using random digit dialling was used in two Young and Well National Surveys conducted in 2012 and 2014. Participants included representative and random samples of 1,400 young people aged 16 to 25 years.

Results:

From 2012 to 2014, sexting activity changed significantly (Χ2=20.79, P <.001). There were increases in two-way sexting (2012: n=521, 38.1%; 2014: n=591, 42.2%) and receiving sexts (2012: n=375, 27.4%; 2014: n=433, 30.9%); whereas not sexting (2012: n=438, 32.0%; 2014: n=356, 25.4) and sending sexts (2012: n=35, 2.6%; 2014: n=20, 1.4%) reduced. Two-way sexting and sending sexts were associated with demographics (male, second language, being in a relationship), mental health and wellbeing items (suicidal thoughts and behaviours, body image concerns) and ICT risks (cyber-bulling others and late-night Internet use). Receiving sexts was significantly associated with demographics (being male, not living with parents or guardians) and ICT risks (being cyber-bullied and late-night Internet use). Converse to non-sexters, Pearson correlations demonstrated that all sexting groups (two-way; sending; receiving) had a negative relationship with endorsing the ICT safety items relating to being careful online and not giving out personal details.

Conclusions:

Our research clearly demonstrates that the majority of young Australians are sexting, or are exposed to sexting in some capacity. Importantly, sexting is associated with some negative health and wellbeing outcomes – in particular, sending sexts is linked suicidal thoughts and behaviours, body image issues and some ICT safety risks including cyber-bullying and late-night internet use. Furthermore, those who do sext are less likely to engage in many preventative ICT safety behaviours. How the community works in partnership with young people to address this going forward needs to be a multifaceted approach, where sexting is positioned within a wider proactive conversation about gender, culture, psychosocial health, and respecting and caring for each other online.