The association between sexting motives and behavior as a function of parental and peers' role

Abstract

Sexting (sexual correspondence based on text or images) is a behavior that in principle is considered normative in the literature as an expression of sexuality in the online space. At the same time, the phenomenon carries risks because it takes place on the Internet and allows its dissemination. It may also be the result of such risk when it is carried out for instrumental motives such as the desire to receive payment. The present study tested the association between sexting motives and behavior as a function of parental and peers' roles to deepen our knowledge of the sexting phenomenon. Participants included 152 adolescents aged 14–19 (M = 15.57) who engaged in sexting. They completed seven online questionnaires. The findings indicate that when the parents used a strategy of technologically restrictive mediation, sexting behaviors with sexual motivations increased, but the same strategy reduced sexting behaviors when the motivations were instrumental. The study also found that high peer cohesion promoted the association between sexual motives and sexting behaviors. The results of the study can inform the design of sexting education and shape parenting practices.