The phenomenon of sexting: a review on favoring factors and conseguences in adolescent age

Abstract

This review concerns the analysis of the factors that can predispose to the sexting behaviors in adolescence and the effects on the actors involved. Empirical contributions were identified on the basis of the PRISMA method and the inclusion criteria were: studies focused on the factors predisposing sexting behavior, or on the effects in terms of psychopathological symptoms and/or risky behaviors in the subjects involved; age of participants not exceeding 18 years; empirical contributions in which there was an adequate description of the method, participants, data analysis and results; publications in English. In the analysis of the empirical contributions, it was essential to distinguish experimental sexting, i.e. voluntary sharing of personal and sexually explicit content online, from aggravated sexting, i.e. sharing carried out as a consequence of pressure from the partner or peer group. According to this differentiation, the 30 empirical contributions selected and relating to  the period 2012-2022 were analyzed. The predisposing factors are some personality traits (impulsiveness, sensation seeking), depressive symptoms, the need for popularity among peers and the presence of other risky behaviors, such as substance and/or alcohol abuse. Among the effects resulting from sexting, anxious and depressive symptoms, involvement in risky sexual behavior, becoming victims of bullying and/or cyber-bullying are identified.