Nonconsensual Sexting: Are the Moral Processes the Same If Boys or Girls Appear in the Forwarded Content?

Sexting is a form of intimate communication available in today's digital society consisting of exchanging erotic-sexual content online. However, doing it without the consent of the person appearing in the content is becoming a normalized form of cyberviolence among adolescents. To advance our understanding of this phenomenon, further research is needed on its facilitating factors, which may include those related to its potential moral dimension and online disinhibition. This study aims to analyze, according to gender and age, the relationship between nonconsensual forwarding of erotic-sexual content, differentiating between the type of content and the gender of the person appearing in it, moral disengagement, and toxic online disinhibition. A total of 1,611 adolescents (47.9 percent girls) aged 12-15 years (M = 13.4; SD = 1.0) participated in the study. Moral disengagement and toxic disinhibition have been shown to facilitate nonconsensual forwarding of erotic-sexual content, but their relevance varies depending on the type of content, and whether girls or boys appear in it. Facilitating factors for nonconsensual forwarding of content featuring boys include age, the diffusion of the consequences, and toxic online disinhibition. For girls, identifying with the male gender and cognitive restructuring were the main facilitators. These findings represent an original advance in the field of study by discriminating between the type of content forwarded and the gender of the person who appears in it. The differences found contribute toward explaining the processes that lead to making immoral decisions when sexting and help lay the foundations for designing psychoeducational programs in the future.

Violence among adolescents: A study of overlapping of bullying, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, dating violence and cyberdating violence.

BACKGROUND: Face-to-face and virtual violence among adolescents could lead to polyvictimisation and polyaggression. More studies are needed to simultaneously analyse various types of violence to understand the extent of involvement in violence during adolescence. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the overlap of bullying, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, dating violence, and cyber dating violence, considering dating experience, gender, and stage of adolescence. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This study involved 2514 Spanish middle school students (49.8 % girls) aged 11-19 years (M = 13.97, SD = 1.40). METHODS: The design of this study was cross-sectional. Data were collected through a survey. RESULTS: Among adolescents with no dating experience, 39.7 % were not victims, and 55.9 % were not aggressors. By contrast, among adolescents with dating experience, 7.1 % were not victims, and 10.5 % were not aggressors. Gender differences in poly-involvement were found between adolescents with and without dating experience. Girls were significantly less involved than boys as polyvictims and polyaggressors when they had no dating experience. They were significantly more involved than boys as polyvictims (9.7 %) and polyaggressors (23.9 %) in dating violence and cyber dating violence when they had dating experience. Age differences in poly-involvement were found only in adolescents with dating experience. Adolescents were more polyinvolved late than early adolescence, especially in dating violence, sexual harassment, and cyber dating violence as polyvictims (22.8 %) and polyaggressors (26.7 %). CONCLUSIONS: Experiences of poly-involvement are diverse according to dating experience, gender, and stage of adolescence. More comprehensive peer and dating violence prevention strategies need to be designed.

Lines of Action for Sexting Prevention and Intervention: A Systematic Review.

Sexting has become a new form of intimate interaction in line with contemporary communication methods. This phenomenon often leads to positive outcomes, but it can also have negative repercussions depending on the situation, such as the context of the relationship, and whether it is consensual or coercive. Despite this, the main types of sexting behaviors (sending, receiving, and third-party forwarding) must be addressed in order to promote safe and healthy practices. However, the approach to tackling this phenomenon remains unclear. This systematic review sought to summarize the lines of action proposed or conducted in the scientific literature to address sexting, to help researchers and educators create and evaluate effective programs. A systematic search of 21 databases was conducted; only articles relating to sexting education, prevention, and intervention among child and adolescent populations were considered. In total, 456 articles were identified, 91 of which were included for the purposes of this research. The results highlighted a need to respond to the aforementioned sexting behaviors and to tackle the resulting conflict situations. Although interventions across different areas are recommended (e.g., health, family, policies, legal advice, law enforcement, technology experts, and even society as a whole), most studies agree that school is the most practical setting for intervention. Thus, the 15 lines of action identified in this systematic review must all be considered to effectively address sexting in childhood and adolescence.

Validation of the Sexting Behavior and Motives Questionnaire(SBM-Q).

BACKGROUND: Sexting has garnered interest from the public and the scientific community given its ever-increasing presence in adolescents' lives. However, analysis varies depending on the baseline study used. This calls for a standardised sexting instrument that addresses scientific evidence-based recommendations. The primary aim of this study was to develop and validate the structure of a questionnaire that includes the various sexting behaviours and motives. METHOD: The sample comprised 1,362 students (51.1% female; 12-18 years old). Participants were randomly split into two halves, controlling for the gender variable (n=681), and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. RESULTS: Validity of the Sexting Behaviours and Motives Questionnaire (SBM-Q) was confirmed, along with the suitability of the factor structure, internal consistency, and divergent validity. This was also reported by gender. Six dimensions were identified: sending, reasons for sending, receiving, forwarding, victim of forwarding, and reasons for forwarding. CONCLUSIONS: The SBM-Q presents good psychometric properties, providing a detailed and consolidated overview of the behaviours that adolescents might engage in when sexting as well as the context in which it occurs.

Validation of the Sexting Behavior and Motives Questionnaire(SBM-Q) / Validación del Cuestionario de Comportamientos y Motivos de Sexting (SBM-Q)

Background: Sexting has garnered interest from the public and thescientifi c community given its ever-increasing presence in adolescents’lives. However, analysis varies depending on the baseline study used.This calls for a standardised sexting instrument that addresses scientifi cevidence-based recommendations. The primary aim of this study was todevelop and validate the structure of a questionnaire that includes thevarious sexting behaviours and motives. Method: The sample comprised1,362 students (51.1% female; 12-18 years old). Participants were randomlysplit into two halves, controlling for the gender variable (n=681), andexploratory and confi rmatory factor analyses were performed. Results:Validity of the Sexting Behaviours and Motives Questionnaire (SBM-Q)was confi rmed, along with the suitability of the factor structure,internal consistency, and divergent validity. This was also reported bygender. Six dimensions were identifi ed: sending, reasons for sending,receiving, forwarding, victim of forwarding, and reasons for forwarding.Conclusions: The SBM-Q presents good psychometric properties,providing a detailed and consolidated overview of the behaviours thatadolescents might engage in when sexting as well as the context in whichit occurs. (AU)

Antecedentes: el sexting ha recibido cada vez mayor atenciónpública y científi ca, dada su creciente presencia en la vida de losadolescentes. Sin embargo, su análisis varía en función del estudio dereferencia. Esto requiere un instrumento de sexting estandarizado queaborde las recomendaciones de la evidencia científi ca. Este estudio tienecomo principal objetivo desarrollar y validar la estructura de un cuestionarioque incluya los diversos comportamientos y motivos de sexting. Método: lamuestra estuvo constituida por 1.362 estudiantes (51,1% chicas; 12-18 años).Se dividió aleatoriamente en dos mitades, controlando la variable género(n=681), y se realizaron análisis factoriales exploratorio y confi rmatorio.Resultados: se confi rmó la validez del Sexting Behaviours and MotivesQuestionnaire (SBM-Q), la adecuación de su estructura factorial, consistenciainterna y validez divergente. También según el género. Concretamente, seidentifi caron seis dimensiones: envío, motivos de envío, recepción, reenvío,víctima de reenvío y motivos de reenvío. Conclusiones: el SBM-Q presentabuenas propiedades psicométricas y permite obtener una visión detallada yconsolidada de los comportamientos que los adolescentes pueden adoptarcuando realizan sexting, así como del contexto en el que sucede. (AU)

Adolescents' Sexy Self-Presentation on Instagram: An Investigation of Their Posting Behavior Using a Prototype Willingness Model Perspective.

Some adolescents use social media platforms, such as Instagram, for sexualized self-presentation, which includes posting images in which someone is scarcely dressed, has a sexy gaze or in which sexual willingness is suggested. These behaviors could be a first step towards sexting. Given that adolescents are highly influenced by peer perceptions, this study uses the prototype willingness model to assess how teenagers' perceptions of others could influence their posting behaviors. The study was conducted among 2626 students (n = 1530; 58.4% girls) between the ages of 14 and 21 (M = 16.14; SD = 1.02) in 10 secondary schools in the Dutch-speaking community in Belgium. The results show that older adolescents and girls were more likely to post images of themselves on Instagram. The models showed that peer norms and willingness and attitudes were significantly associated with posting intention. The perceived norms of adolescents' parents were not significantly related to the behaviors. There were also significant associations between perceived similarity, prototype favorability and the willingness to engage in sexualized self-presentation on Instagram. The implications for education and practice are discussed.

Longitudinal relationships between sexting and involvement in both bullying and cyberbullying.

INTRODUCTION: Sexting is a new way to explore sexuality among adolescents that can be associated with bullying behaviors. Previous studies have focused on peer-victimization but relationships between bullying and different forms of sexting have not been explored. This study evaluates the reciprocal relationships between the perpetration of traditional bullying, cyberbullying, and four forms of sexting (sending, receiving, third-party forwarding, and receiving sexts via an intermediary). METHODS: The sample consisted of 1736 Spanish High School students (46.3% female; Mage = 13.60, SD = 1.25). Four direct questions were used to assess sexting, the EBIPQ to measure traditional bullying and the ECIPQ to evaluate cyberbullying. These measures were completed twice, four months apart. A cross-lagged panel analysis evaluated the reciprocal associations of all study measures. RESULTS: Traditional bullying and cyberbullying were positively, reciprocally associated with each other. Generally, those young people who engaged in sexting at T1 were more likely to report engaging in sexting at T2. Third-party forwarding of sexts (forwarding on sexts which have been sent to a young person by others) displays clear relationships with bullying. Young people who reported using traditional bullying behaviours at T1 were more likely to report third-party forwarding of sexual content at T2. Bullies are more likely to later report third-party forwarding of sexts. CONCLUSIONS: A focus on bullying behavior may be important for intervention efforts targeting to prevent possible negative outcomes of engaging in sexting. Recommendations are provided for educational and prevention efforts.

Sexting Among Adolescents: The Emotional Impact and Influence of the Need for Popularity.

Sexting refers to the exchange of sexual content material via technological devices. The definitions of this phenomenon vary greatly, mainly, depending on the types of sexting: primary and secondary. Besides the above, there is no common perspective on whether sexting is a risk behavior that entails some type of impact by itself or not and, in such a case, whether this impact varies according to gender. In addition, the need to be popular has shown to be a factor that could increase the probability of being involved in sexting. The present study analyzes the potential emotional impact of sexting as well as the effect of the need for popularity on this phenomenon and if it varies according to gender. The sample comprised 2,356 high school students (46.8% female, 53.2% male; age range 11-18 years old, M = 13.72; SD = 1.31) belonging to 12 compulsory secondary education (ESO) schools from the south of Spain. To assess sexting implication, four questions were presented to participants (sending, receiving, forwarding, and receiving sexts via intermediary). Scales, self-report, about emotional impact (depressed, annoyed, and active) and need for popularity were also applied. The results obtained show that, although sexting has a clear emotional impact on adolescents, it does not appear to generate a negative impact among those involved, at least in the short term. Concretely, this phenomenon seems to trigger emotions related to activation in boys and girls (I feel lively, energetic, satisfied, ready, determined, active). Additionally, with respect to the need for popularity, its relevance, specially, in relation to active emotional impact has been confirmed by the analyses. Statistical models found for boys and girls were similar. In addition, some differences in emotional impact by gender were found, girls feeling more depressed and annoyed in secondary sexting, and boys more active regarding both types of sexting.

El consumo regular de bebidas azucaradas incrementa el perfil lipídico-metabólico y los niveles de adiposidad en universitarios de Colombia / Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases the lipid-metabolic profile and adiposity among university students from Colombia

Objetivo: Examinar si el consumo de bebidas azucaradas se relaciona con alteraciones en el perfil lipídico-metabólico y con marcadores de adiposidad en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de Colombia. Métodos: Estudio transversal en 280 voluntarios (73,9% varones) de 3 universidades de Colombia. El consumo de bebidas azucaradas se obtuvo mediante un cuestionario de frecuencia de ingesta en los últimos 7 días (BEVQ-15) en los dominios: bebidas azucaradas carbonatadas y refrescos de jugo. Se identificó la cantidad y la frecuencia de consumo (nunca, una vez, 2-3 veces y +4 veces/sem). Se obtuvieron datos bioquímicos de glucosa, colesterol total, triglicéridos, c-HDL, c-LDL, índice arterial e índice de Castelli. Se calculó el índice lipídico-metabólico según las concentraciones de triglicéridos, c-LDL, c-HDL y glucosa. La circunferencia de cintura, el índice de masa corporal, el índice de adiposidad corporal y el porcentaje de grasa corporal por impedancia bioeléctrica se usaron como marcadores de adiposidad. Resultados: En el grupo de varones, los participantes que acusaron mayor consumo de bebidas azucaradas (+4 veces/sem) presentaron mayores valores de circunferencia de cintura, porcentaje de grasa corporal, colesterol total, triglicéridos, c-LDL, así como en los índices de Castelli y arterial (p = NS). En mujeres se observó esta relación en el índice de masa corporal, la circunferencia de cintura, el porcentaje de grasa corporal, los triglicéridos y el c-LDL (p tendencia < 0,05). En las categorías más altas de consumo (2-3 y +4 veces/sem) se observó una relación inversa con el índice lipídico-metabólico (p < 0,05) tras ajustar por sexo, edad e índice de masa corporal. Conclusión: El incremento en el consumo de bebidas azucaradas se relacionó con un mayor perfil lipídico-metabólico y con marcadores de adiposidad elevados en universitarios colombianos.

Objective: To examine whether the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is related to disturbances in the lipid-metabolic profile and markers of adiposity in a sample of university students from Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 280 volunteers from 3 universities in Colombia. Data for sugar-sweetened beverages consumption were collected using a frequency-intake questionnaire in the last week (BEVQ-15) including carbonated beverages and juices. We also estimated data for quantity and frequency of consumption (never, one time, 2-3 times and > 4 times per week). Data for biomarkers included total cholesterol, triglycerides, c-HDL, c-LDL, arterial index and Castelli index. Lipid-metabolic index was calculated through serum concentrations of triglycerides, c-HDL, c-LDL and glucose. Waist circumference, body mass index and fat mass percentage were evaluated via bioelectrical impedance and used as markers of adiposity. Results: Male reported higher sugar-sweetened beverages consumption (> 4 times/wk) and elicited higher values of fat mass, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides, c-LDL and Castelli and arterial indices (P = NS). These relationships were also observed among women for body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass, triglycerides and c-LDL (P < .05). Furthermore, higher sugar-sweetened beverages consumption categories were negatively associated with lipid-metabolic index (P < .05) after adjustments by sex, age and body mass index. Conclusion: A higher sugar-sweetened beverages consumption was associated with a major lipid-metabolic profile and also with higher concentrations of adiposity markers among university students from Colombia.