Exchanging intimacy for favors and nude photos among ninth graders

Abstract

Introduction: Sharing nude photos and exchanging intimacy favors transcends the threshold from hidden and private content into public consciousness. Ever-present is the differentiation between an image shared by consent and those not consented to and distributed as part of harassment, revenge and abuse. Similarly, the continuum of exchanging intimacy moves across normative boundaries some see as unproblematic and occur in many sexual and romantic encounters, while others can be experienced as problematic. The purpose of this quantitative study is in a low-risk setting to investigate basic characteristics in the spread of the phenomenon of sugar-dating and nude photo sharing among adolescents. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 9th grade classes at schools in a single Danish municipality for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 with pupils and teachers not notified in advance. The survey included questions on gender identity, sugar-dating, sharing nude photos, and, from 2022, consent and setting up boundaries to sex. Results: Of 729 pupils 541 (74%) answered the questionnaire. More pupils with sexual debut sent nude photos of themselves via tablet/phones/computers, received nude photos and had passed them on than those without sexual debut, while no gender difference was found. More than four times as many pupils had received nude photos than pupils who had sent nudes of themselves. Ten percent stated they had exchanged intimacy for favors like presents or entry to parties; the intimacy act was spelled out as oral sex, hand job or sexual intercourse (vaginal penetration). Sugar-dating and knowledge hereof were associated with sexual debut but was not exclusively performed by debutants. Of those who gave sexual favors, 40% were non-debutant pupils. Conclusion: The survey found a 10 % prevalence of sugar-dating and 53 % receiving nude photos amongst 9th graders. The implication of the phenomena on behavior has obvious perspectives on adolescents’ mental and physical health.