Sexting is a “key part” of teenagers’ sexual development — and efforts by parents to discourage the behaviour can just encourage their children instead.
This is the conclusion of a study by a researcher from Israel who surveyed sexting teenagers about how and why they engage in such communications.
The psychologist explored two different motivations for the practice — the first being to fulfil a sexual desire.
However, teens also experience “instrumental” motivations, she explained, in which they sext because they feel pressure from the recipient, or to receive payment in return.
Previous studies have indicated that around one in every five teens engages in sexting — although this figure may increase to a third of teens in some places.
READ MORE: ‘Sex death trap’ saw hundreds of ancient frogs drowned while mating
The research was undertaken by cyberpsychologist Dr Michal Dolev-Cohen of the Oranim College of Education in Kiryat Tiv’on, northern Israel.
She said: “According to my study, if parents try to discourage sexting, it only encourages teens to participate in more sexting behaviours.
“Sexting appears to be a key part in adolescents’ sexual development; which may explain why teens resist any tampering from parents.
“However, if teens are sexting for purely instrumental reasons, my study shows that parental limits do reduce their sexting and that’s a good thing — as instrumental sexting is associated with risky behaviours.”
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
In her study, Dr Dolev-Cohen recruited 152 Israeli adolescents aged 14–19 who reported engaging in sexting behaviour — sending either texts, images, or both.
The average age of the subjects was around 17 — and they were almost evenly divided between young men and women.
Participants were tasked with completing a series of seven surveys on their sexting practices and motivations.
The questionnaires also explored the teens’ relationships with friends and family, and their perceptions of how their peers and parents viewed sexting.
DON’T MISS:
Cancer breakthrough as tumour cells induced to ‘commit suicide’[REPORT]
Most overweight people are NOT at a greater risk of early death, study finds[INSIGHT]
Living near parks slows biological ageing in city dwellers, study suggests[ANALYSIS]
The results revealed that when parents attempted to restrict their children’s use of technology, such had the potential to backfire.
When the sexting behaviour was motivated by “instrumental” reasons such as peer pressure, or to receive payment in response, restriction was found effective.
This is because clear technological restrictions — such as filters that prevent contact with strangers or limited online time — served to reduce opportunities for sexting.
However, when the teens were sexually motivated, Dr Dolev-Cohen found that such restrictions actually just led to more sexting.
Such behaviour was also found to be more likely when adolescents felt a high level of cohesion with their peers.
Dr Dolev-Cohen said: “Different mediation practices appear to lead to different results, depending on the motives for sexting.
“Thus, technologically restrictive mediation — which often grants parents a sense of control and the feeling that they succeed in preventing activities they deem undesirable — may not be appropriate and may achieve the opposite result.
“Therefore, alternative strategies should be considered, such as establishing an open dialogue with the children that allows them to express their position, and designing prevention adapted to the family culture and characteristics.
“Parents should promote healthy expressions of sexuality, and understand the risks of the phenomenon and the need to encourage healthy sexting.
She concluded: “The education system, as an institution that also instils social norms, must conduct a discourse on healthy sexuality in general and healthy sexting in particular that conveys messages of consent and desire.
“It should explain to the peer group their responsibility as active bystanders when it comes to their friends when their motives for sexting are instrumental and involve risks.”
The full findings of the study were published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior.
Source: Read Full Article