What are you looking at? Body image esteem and sexting behaviors among emerging Australian adults

Abstract

Image-based sexting constitutes a visual form of sexual communication. Yet, the degree to which satisfaction with one's physical appearance emboldens or inhibits young adults from engaging in sexting behaviors is poorly understood. This study investigated whether body esteem related to specific body parts and functions could uniquely predict sending sexts, sending consensual but unwanted sexts, and decisions against sending sexts. Six hundred and fourteen Australians aged 18–21 years (M = 19.57, SD = 1.15) took part in the study. Binomial regressions revealed that negative body esteem in relation to lips made a unique contribution to the higher likelihood of sending sexts for women. No further individual body parts or functions made a unique contribution to the models for sending sexts, sending consensual but unwanted sexts, or decisions against sexting across genders. However, body image esteem in relation 35 body parts and functions collectively explained 23% and 35% of variance in sending sexts for women and men. It also explained 14% and 28% of variance in decisions against sending sexts for women and men respectively, but made no significant contribution to the prediction of consensual but unwanted sexts across genders. Methodological implications and directions for future research are discussed.