Researchers at University of Michigan's SexLab looked at young adults experiences with sexting, and found no correlation with depression, anxiety or self-esteem. Findings are discussed with a particular emphasis on sexual health.

1. 1
Sexting and well-being among
heterosexual young adults and young
gay/bisexual men in the United States.
Jose Bauermeister
Steven Meanley
Emily Pingel
Mallory Edgar
Emily Yeagley
Kevin Jefferson
Deepak Alapati
April 7,8 & 9, 2013
San Francisco, CA
Sixth Annual Conference on Youth + Tech + Health

2. Sexting: Sharing sexually suggestive
photos through cell phones
Lenhart, 2009
2

3. Risky?
Safe?
Neither?
3

4. 4

5. 55
Virtual Networks Study

6. Initial Recruitment Procedure
• Target 24 seeds stratified by race and region
– Recruited through Facebook Ads
– Referred friends through WebRDS
Bauermeister, J.A., Zimmerman, M.A., Johns, M.M., Glowacki, P., Stoddard, S. & Volz, E. (2012). Innovative recruitment using online networks: Lessons
learned from an online study of alcohol and other drug use utilizing a web-based Respondent Driven Sampling (webRDS) strategy. Journal of Studies on
Alcohol and Drugs, 73(5), 834-838
6

7. Completed Sample
• 22 Seeds (18-24 years old)
– Race: 5 B, 8 L, 9 W
– Region: 7 NE, 6 S, 4 W, 5 MW
• N= 3,448 total cases
– Weighted by RDS effect: N = 827 youth
7

8. (N=3,448)
Sex
Male 51.60%
Female 48.40%
Race/Ethnicity
White 72.80%
Black 5.10%
Hispanic/Latino 8.50%
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.00%
Asian/Asian Pacific Islander/NH 11.80%
Other 3.60%
2 or more 2.80%
Unknown 3.00%
Region
Northeast 36.30%
Midwest 23.30%
South 28.50%
West 11.90%
8

9. 9

10. 10
435
(57%)
96
(13%)
15
(2%)
214
(28%)
Sexting Status
Never Sexted
Sent Only
Received Only
Both Sent and
Received
435
(57%)
96
(13%)
214
(28%)

12. Demographic Differences
• Males 2x greater odds of receiving only.
• Asian/Pacific Islanders sext less than other
racial/ethnic groups.

13. 13
Psychological Well-being
F test
Depression Symptoms (α = .82) F(2,714) = 1.08 n.s.
Anxiety Symptoms (α = .89) F(2,1464) = .14 n.s.
Self Esteem (α = .88) F(2,1465) = .99 n.s.

14. 14
Sexual Behaviors
N(%)/M(SD)
Sexually Active (lifetime) 520 (70.2%)
Sexually Active (past 30 days) 349 (52.9%)
Proportion who engaged in Unprotected Vaginal Sex (%) .12(.24)
Proportion who engaged in Unprotected Anal Sex (%) .30(.14)

15. 15
Sexual Behaviors
χ2
(df) / F(df)
Compared to non-
sexters…
Sexually Active (lifetime) χ2
(2) = 104.78
Receivers: 3x*
S&R: 14x*
Sexually Active (past 30 days) Χ2
(2) = 76.28
Receivers: 3x*
S&R: 5x*
Proportion who engaged in Unprotected
Vaginal Sex (%)
F(2, 303) = 2.48 n.s.
Proportion who engaged in Unprotected Anal
Sex (%)
F(2, 334) = 2.46 n.s.
* p < .05

16. Conclusions
 Sexting is a prevalent behavior
 Sexting is a reciprocal behavior
 More likely among YA who are sexually-active
 Males receive more than females.
 Not associated with sexual risk outcomes.
 Not associated with psychological correlates.

17. What is the relationship
between sexting and well-being
among YMSM?

18. 1818
Virtual Love Study

19. Recruitment Procedure
• Facebook & BGC Live Ads (18-24 years old)
• Recorded entries: 3,140
– Ineligible: 942
– Fraudulent: 366
– Did not commence survey: 325
– 1,638 valid entries
19

20. N = 1,507 Mean(SD)/N(%)
Age 20.80 (.12)
Race/Ethnicity
White 987 (65.5%)
Black 131 (8.7%)
Latino 256 (17.0%)
Asian/Pacific Islander 58 (3.8%)
Multiracial 54 (3.6%)
Other 21 (1.4%)
Sexual Identity
Gay 1389 (92.2%)
Bisexual 45 (3.2%)
Other 68 (4.6%)
Educational Attainment
Less than high school degree 54 (3.6%)
High school degree 318 (21.1%)
Technical/Associate Degree 89 (5.9%)
Some College 733 (48.6%)
College 220 (14.6%)
Some graduate school 93 (6.2%)
20

21. 21
189
(12.6%)
158
(10.5%)
20
(1.3%)
1138
(75.6%)
Sexting Status
Never Sexted
Sent Only
Received Only
Both Sent and
Received
189
(12.6%)
158
(10.5%)
1138
(75.6%)

22. Demographic Characteristics
• Age (F2,1482=6.83; p < .001)
• Non-sexters were slightly younger than S&R and RO sexters,
respectively.
• Sexual Identity (χ2(2)=11.46; p < .01)
• Gay men were more likely to report sexting than other identities.
• Educational attainment (F2,1482=3.21; p < .05)
• Non-sexters were slightly less educated than S&R sexters.
• Region (χ2(8)=24.53; p < .01)
• Northeast men were least likely to engage in sexting behavior.
• No differences by race/ethnicity.

23. 23
Psychological Well-being
F test Scheffé post-hoc
Depression Symptoms (α = .85) F(2,1464) = 2.00 n.s.
Anxiety Symptoms (α = .92) F(2,1464) = 3.95 S&R > RO*
Self Esteem (α = .88) F(2,1465) = 1.65 n.s.
* p < .05

24. 24
Sexual Behaviors
N(%)
Sexually Active (past 2 months) 1062 (70.5%)
Engaged in Receptive Anal Intercourse (RAI) 718 (47.8%)
Engaged in Unprotected RAI 427 (28.4%)
Engaged in Insertive Anal Intercourse (IAI) 602 (39.9%)
Engaged in Unprotected IAI 363 (24.1%)

25. 25
Sexual Behaviors
χ2
(df)
Sexually Active (past 2 months)
χ2
(2) =
148.00*
S&R most likely to be
sexually active
Engaged in Receptive Anal Intercourse (RAI) Χ2
(2) = .58 n.s.
Engaged in Unprotected RAI Χ2
(2) = .97 n.s.
Engaged in Insertive Anal Intercourse (IAI) Χ2
(2) = 7.02*
Non-sexters least
likely to engage in IAI
Engaged in Unprotected IAI Χ2
(2) = 4.40 n.s.
* p < .05

26. 26
Conclusions
• Sexting is prevalent among young gay and bisexual men.
• Psychological Well-being
– Anxiety symptoms are slightly higher among those who
Sent & Received sexts when compared to those who
Receive only.
– No association with depression symptoms or self-esteem
scores.
• Sexual behaviors
– Sexters more likely to be sexually-active, yet their sexting
behavior is not associated with sexual risk practices.

27. Sexting Findings Across
Populations
27

28. Sexting Prevalence
• More prevalent among gay
and bisexual young adult
men than heterosexual
young adults.
57.0%
13.0%
2.0%
28.0%
12.6%
10.5%
1.3%
75.6%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Never Sexted Received Only Sent Only Sent & Received
Heterosexual Gay & Bisexual
Sexting & Health
• Sexting is linked to sexual
activity, yet not associated
with sexual risk outcomes.
• Limited support for a
relationship between
sexting and psychological
well-being

29. Implications
• Why the concern over “sexting”?
– Concerns of unknown risks with new
technologies?
– Shifts in Sexual Cultures across
Generations?
– Moral hang-ups?
• Need to have frank, open
conversations about sexual
expression.
• Develop strategies to ensure that
these conversations remain safe
and (when desired) private.

30. 30
Limitations
• Cross-sectional analyses
• Findings may not be
generalizable to younger
populations.
• Sexting ≠ non-
consensual sharing of
sexts.

31. Acknowledgments
• Support provided by:
– “Virtual Network Influences on Young Adults’
Alcohol and Drug Use”. (1RC1DA028061).
– “HIV/AIDS risk among young men who use the
Internet”. (1K01MH087242).
31

32. Thank You!
32