Love in Quarantine: Sexting, Stress, and Coping During the COVID-19 Lockdown.
Sex Res Social Policy
; : 1-14, 2021 Sep 23.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-20233253
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
This study investigated the relationships of pandemic-related stress and coping strategies with different kinds of sexting (i.e., experimental, risky, and emotional) during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Italian context.METHODS:
A sample of 1929 emerging adults (M age = 24.17, SD age = 2.75; 71.6% girls) completed an online survey about their sexting behaviors during the national lockdown in Italy. Data were gathered in April/May 2020, from 6th to 11th week of home confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic. Hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were performed.RESULTS:
Pandemic-related stress directly predicted only risky and emotional sexting. Experimental and emotional sexting were positively predicted by social support, and negatively predicted by turning to religion. Risky and emotional sexting were positively predicted by avoidance, and negatively predicted by problem solving. Adaptive coping (i.e., social support) mediated the relationships from pandemic-related stress to both experimental and emotional sexting. Maladaptive coping (i.e., avoidance and problem solving) mediated the relationships from pandemic related-stress to risky and emotional sexting.CONCLUSIONS:
Sexting was a coping tool during COVID-19 lockdown, showing both adaptive and maladaptive facets. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Findings suggest new directions for implementing programs of sexual education and safer Internet use targeted to young people.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Sex Res Social Policy
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S13178-021-00645-z
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