Patterns of sexting and sexual behaviors in youth: A Latent Class Analysis

dc.contributor.authorMori, C., Choi, H. J., Temple, J. R., & Madigan, S.
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-23T16:39:07Z
dc.date.available2022-05-23T16:39:07Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractParticipants were an ethnically diverse sample of 894 youth (55.8% female; Mage = 17.04, SD = 0.77) from a longitudinal survey study in southeast Texas. Latent classes were identified through participants’ responses to the following indicator variables: sending, receiving, and requesting sexts, sexual activity, contraception use, ≥ three partners, and substance use prior to sexual activity. Gender, ethnicity, impulsivity, and living situation were analyzed as predictors, and depressive symptoms as an outcome, of class membership. The analysis revealed four distinct classes: No sexting-Low sex (42.2%), Sexting-Low sex (4.5%), No sexting-Moderately risky sex (28.3%), and Sexting-Moderately risky sex (24.9%). Gender and ethnicity predicted class membership wherein females and ethnic minority youth were less likely to be in groups displaying higher rates of sexting. Impulsivity and living situation predicted class membership, such that youth reporting higher impulsivity and living in a situation other than with two biological parents were less likely to be in classes displaying low sexting and sexual behaviors. Group membership predicted depressive symptoms. Results suggest that not all youth who are sexting are having sex, and not all youth who are having sex are sexting. Evidence of individual differences in youth sexual behaviors should inform educational initiatives aimed at teaching youth about sexual and online health. (Publisher Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationMori, C., Choi, H. J., Temple, J. R., & Madigan, S. (2021). Patterns of sexting and sexual behaviors in youth: A Latent Class Analysis. Journal of adolescence, 88, 97-106.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/patterns-sexting-and-sexual-behaviors-youth-latent-class-analysis
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/5426
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Adolescenceen_US
dc.subjectsextingen_US
dc.subjectsexual behaviorsen_US
dc.subjectadolescentsen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.subjectsurveyen_US
dc.titlePatterns of sexting and sexual behaviors in youth: A Latent Class Analysisen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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