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The Resource Adolescent sexting : an examination of the psychosocial contributions to the creation and sharing of sexual images, by Ashton Gerding Speno

Adolescent sexting : an examination of the psychosocial contributions to the creation and sharing of sexual images, by Ashton Gerding Speno

Creator
Author
Contributor
Summary
Sexting, typically defined as the sending, receiving, or forwarding of sexually explicit or suggestive messages or images through cell phones and other mobile devices, is a popular activity among adolescents and is becoming a part of the dating process. Societal concerns about adolescent sexting range from moral panic to legality issues. Similarly, much existing research on sexting centers on legal issues or bullying, while less research considers the health implications of sexting. The most recent research has begun to examine the associations between media socialization and sexting. It is important to understand the various predictors of sexting; this could inform intervention programs centered on this phenomenon. Thus, this study examined the psychosocial predictors of adolescent sexting, focusing specifically on developmental, gendered, and technological explanations. After a pre-test of 220 college-age individuals was completed in order to determine the positive and negative consequences of sexting, a cross-sectional survey of 201 Midwestern adolescents aged 14-17 was conducted. Results showed that higher levels of online disinhibition positively predicted sexting intentions, subjective norms, and behaviors, yet it did not predict sexting attitudes, and these relationships were not moderated by personal fable beliefs or imaginary audience beliefs. Higher levels of online disinhibition also positively predicted the receiving and requesting of sext messages, but not the sending of sext messages. The second set of analyses showed gender differences in sexting: boys had more favorable attitudes about sexting, girls perceived higher levels of subjective norms of sexting, yet there was no difference between sexting intentions or behaviors between boys and girls. Additionally, boys requested sext messages more than girls, but boys and girls were equally likely to send and receive sexting messages. Results also showed that girls received more negative consequences for sexting, while boys received more positive consequences regarding sexting, and boys felt more strongly that girls should receive the negative consequences of sexting compared to girls. Finally, the acceptance of women as sex objects predicted positive sexting attitudes and intentions to sext, but this relationship was not moderated by gender. The third set of analyses showed that higher levels of trait self-objectification positively predicted favorable attitudes about sexting, sexting intentions, and sexting subjective norms for girls, and that self-objectification mediated the relationship between internalization of sexualization and sexting attitudes. Self-objectification did not predict any of the sexting variables for boys, but sociocultural beliefs about attractiveness portrayed in the media positively predicted sexting attitudes, intentions, and subjective norms for boys. The results of this study can usefully inform educational and targeted intervention programs regarding sexting risks
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
1 online resource (xi, 197 pages)
Note
  • Dissertation co-chairs: Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Ph.D
  • Includes vita
Instance
Label
Adolescent sexting : an examination of the psychosocial contributions to the creation and sharing of sexual images
Title
Adolescent sexting
Title remainder
an examination of the psychosocial contributions to the creation and sharing of sexual images
Statement of responsibility
by Ashton Gerding Speno
Creator
Contributor
Author
Thesis advisor
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
Sexting, typically defined as the sending, receiving, or forwarding of sexually explicit or suggestive messages or images through cell phones and other mobile devices, is a popular activity among adolescents and is becoming a part of the dating process. Societal concerns about adolescent sexting range from moral panic to legality issues. Similarly, much existing research on sexting centers on legal issues or bullying, while less research considers the health implications of sexting. The most recent research has begun to examine the associations between media socialization and sexting. It is important to understand the various predictors of sexting; this could inform intervention programs centered on this phenomenon. Thus, this study examined the psychosocial predictors of adolescent sexting, focusing specifically on developmental, gendered, and technological explanations. After a pre-test of 220 college-age individuals was completed in order to determine the positive and negative consequences of sexting, a cross-sectional survey of 201 Midwestern adolescents aged 14-17 was conducted. Results showed that higher levels of online disinhibition positively predicted sexting intentions, subjective norms, and behaviors, yet it did not predict sexting attitudes, and these relationships were not moderated by personal fable beliefs or imaginary audience beliefs. Higher levels of online disinhibition also positively predicted the receiving and requesting of sext messages, but not the sending of sext messages. The second set of analyses showed gender differences in sexting: boys had more favorable attitudes about sexting, girls perceived higher levels of subjective norms of sexting, yet there was no difference between sexting intentions or behaviors between boys and girls. Additionally, boys requested sext messages more than girls, but boys and girls were equally likely to send and receive sexting messages. Results also showed that girls received more negative consequences for sexting, while boys received more positive consequences regarding sexting, and boys felt more strongly that girls should receive the negative consequences of sexting compared to girls. Finally, the acceptance of women as sex objects predicted positive sexting attitudes and intentions to sext, but this relationship was not moderated by gender. The third set of analyses showed that higher levels of trait self-objectification positively predicted favorable attitudes about sexting, sexting intentions, and sexting subjective norms for girls, and that self-objectification mediated the relationship between internalization of sexualization and sexting attitudes. Self-objectification did not predict any of the sexting variables for boys, but sociocultural beliefs about attractiveness portrayed in the media positively predicted sexting attitudes, intentions, and subjective norms for boys. The results of this study can usefully inform educational and targeted intervention programs regarding sexting risks
Cataloging source
MUU
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Speno, Ashton Gerding
Degree
Ph. D.
Dissertation note
Thesis
Dissertation year
2016.
Government publication
government publication of a state province territory dependency etc
Granting institution
University of Missouri--Columbia
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
no index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
  • dictionaries
  • bibliography
  • theses
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
  • Aubrey, Jennifer Stevens
  • Behm-Morawitz, Elizabeth
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Teenagers
  • Sexting
  • Sex differences
  • Middle West
Label
Adolescent sexting : an examination of the psychosocial contributions to the creation and sharing of sexual images, by Ashton Gerding Speno
Instantiates
Publication
Note
  • Dissertation co-chairs: Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Ph.D
  • Includes vita
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-158)
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
993003111
Extent
1 online resource (xi, 197 pages)
Form of item
online
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Other physical details
illustrations
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)993003111
Label
Adolescent sexting : an examination of the psychosocial contributions to the creation and sharing of sexual images, by Ashton Gerding Speno
Publication
Note
  • Dissertation co-chairs: Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Ph.D
  • Includes vita
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-158)
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Control code
993003111
Extent
1 online resource (xi, 197 pages)
Form of item
online
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Other physical details
illustrations
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)993003111

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