Recent research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health The results of a study showed that sexting does not contribute to an increase in depressive symptoms or behavioral problems in adolescents over time. This finding suggests that efforts to reduce sexting among young people are not preventing mental health problems as previously thought.
Adolescence is a pivotal period of development, marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. With the advent of digital media, communication methods have evolved, making digital platforms an important space for sexual socialization among adolescents. Sexting, which involves sending and receiving sexually explicit messages or images, has become more common as smartphone use has increased.
There is growing concern that sexting is linked to mental health problems in adolescents. However, previous research has mainly relied on cross-sectional studies, which only capture a snapshot in time and cannot account for pre-existing differences between those who send sexual messages and those who do not.
“Many studies have shown that sexting is negatively associated with mental health. However, the results are mainly based on cross-sectional data, which cannot be used to rule out whether sexting causes mental health problems or whether some people are more likely to both engage in sexting and have poorer mental health,” said study author Lars Roar Frøyland, senior researcher at Norwegian Social Research (NOVA) at Oslo Metropolitan University.
“In our study, we were able to use a robust methodology by following the same individuals over time, which allowed for analyses that better distinguish cause from effect. Our main motivation for studying this topic was to use this methodological strength to provide more robust knowledge about the long-term association between sexting and mental health.”
The study used data from the MyLife study, a longitudinal research project examining the health and development of Norwegian adolescents. The sample consisted of 3,000 adolescents, aged 15 to 19, who participated in at least one of three assessment periods from 2019 to 2021. The researchers measured sexting, depressive symptoms and behavioral problems at each time point using standardized questionnaires.
Sexting was assessed using questions about sending or sharing sexual photographs or videos, with responses ranging from “never” to “every day or almost every day.” Depressive symptoms were measured using a modified version of the Adolescent Patient Health Questionnaire, which includes questions about low mood, sleep problems, and low energy. Behavioral problems were assessed using questions about behaviors such as stealing, bullying, and destroying property.
The study found that the proportion of teens who sexted varied over time. Among girls, 30.5% reported sexting the first time, 36.7% the second time, and 33.7% the third time. Among boys, the figures were 33.1%, 29.9%, and 21.6%, respectively. Symptoms of depression were generally higher among girls, while behavioral problems were more common among boys.
Using a statistical method called intercepted random cross-sectional panel design (RI-CLPM), the researchers were able to separate individual differences from within-person effects over time. This method determines whether changes in one variable predict changes in another variable within a person.
The results showed no significant effect of sexting on depressive symptoms in either girls or boys. In other words, teens who increased their sexting behavior did not experience higher levels of depression than usual. For girls, behavioral problems at one time point were associated with increased sexting at the next time point, suggesting that behavioral problems may lead to more sexting rather than the other way around.
“The study shows that sexting does not contribute to increased depressive symptoms and behavioral problems in adolescents over time,” Frøyland told PsyPost. “Therefore, efforts to reduce sexting cannot prevent mental health problems in young people. Practitioners should therefore focus on educating adolescents on how to sext safely and responsibly.”
While this study provides valuable information, it is not without limitations. One major limitation is that the questionnaire does not distinguish between consensual and nonconsensual sexting. This distinction is crucial because nonconsensual sexting, such as coercion or sharing without consent, may have different effects on mental health than consensual sexting.
“We cannot rule out that non-consensual sexting may have a negative impact on mental health, while consensual sexting does not,” Frøyland noted. “However, we want to say that the methodological strength of the study outweighs these potential reservations.”
“I hope to continue this line of research, both on consensual use of digital media in adolescent sexuality and on sexual assaults associated with digital media. It is to be expected that adolescents will continue to use digital media for sexual purposes, so we need to develop knowledge that allows them to do so safely and to help them not violate others when they do so.”
The study, “Sexting and Mental Health in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study,” was authored by Roar Frøyland, Rikke Tokle, Jasmina Burdzovic Andreas, and Geir Scott Brunborg.
