Investigating Longitudinal Relationships Between Sexy Self-Presentations on Social Network Sites and Adolescents’ Sexual Self-Concept

• In Event: From Hook Up to Pregnancy: Sex, Sexuality, and Media

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that adolescents’ social network site use is related to their sexual self-concept, but systematic empirical research on the issue is lacking. The present study investigated the relationships between self- and other-generated sexy self-presentations (i.e., posting sexy pictures or looking at sexy pictures of others) on social network sites and a relevant aspect of adolescents’ sexual self-concept (i.e., the importance of being sexually outgoing) over time. Results from a representative two-wave panel study among 1,586 Dutch adolescents (aged 13-17) showed that both self- and other-generated sexy self-presentations influenced adolescents’ sexual self-concept directly. In addition, looking at others’ sexy self-presentations also had an indirect influence on sexual self-concept through increased favorability of prototypes of sexual others. Moreover, adolescents’ sexual self-concept predicted their exposure to sexy self-presentations of others, as well as their own sexy self-presentation over time. These results did not differ for boys and girls.

Authors

• Johanna M.F. van Oosten, U of Amsterdam

• Jochen Peter, U of Amsterdam

• Dian Afina de Vries, Amsterdam School of Communication Research