Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2024.28

The Relationship Between Adolescent Sexting and Psychosocial Functioning

Ana Kvesić ; Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Arta Dodaj orcid.org/0000-0002-8064-6666 ; Department of Psychology, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia;
Karla Krešo orcid.org/0009-0001-5673-7947 ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kristina Sesar orcid.org/0000-0003-2406-7114 ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The increase in the frequency of sharing sexually explicit content among adolescents has also influenced the increasing
interest of researchers to study the consequences of this behavior on the psychosocial functioning of adolescents. The aim
of this study was to establish if gender, intimate relationship status and different types of sexting represent predictors of
psychosocial functioning. A total of 598 high school students from Croatia took part in this study, all between 16 and 18
years of age (M = 17.035; SD = 0.753). The participants took part in the online study which examined the demographic
variables (gender, intimate relationship status), sexting variables (sending, receiving and forwarding of sexually explicit
content), and psychosocial functioning variables (optimism and coping strategies, general psychosocial dysfunction,
as well as behavior and relationship problems). The results of regression analysis showed that male participants and
those not involved in a relationship score higher on measures of psychosocial dysfunction. Sending sexts is associated
with higher scores in terms of optimism and coping strategies, general psychosocial dysfunction and behavior problems.
Receiving sexts is associated with behavior and relationship problems, while forwarding them is not associated with any of
the examined variables of psychosocial functioning. The obtained results could serve as the basis for various intervention
programs aimed at reducing the negative aspects of the psychological functioning of adolescents.

Keywords

Sexting; Psychosocial Functioning; Optimism; Coping Strategies; Behavior Problems; Adolescents

Hrčak ID:

320247

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/320247

Publication date:

20.3.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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