Adolescents’ Engagement in Sexting Within Their Romantic Relationship and its Associations With Perceptions of Love and Conflict

• In Event: Growing Up With Media: Gender, Sexuality, and Romance During the Teen & Young Adult Years (HHD Session)

Abstract

This study aims to investigate associations between adolescents’ engagement in sexting and their perceptions of intimacy, passion, commitment, and conflict within their romantic relationship. We report on a survey that was conducted in Flanders, Belgium among 657 adolescents, who indicated that they were in a romantic relationship. Analyses revealed that engagement in sexting within a romantic relationship was significantly linked with higher perceptions of passion within the relationship, but not with emotional intimacy and commitment. There was also a positive association between perceptions of verbal conflict and adolescents’ engagement in sexting. The results suggest sexting could function as a digital way to express and sustain feelings in their romantic relationship, for young people who have a need for sexual and physical proximity. The significant associations with higher levels of perceived verbal aggression contribute to evidence that adolescent sexting is linked with violence within romantic relationships.  

Authors

• Joris Van Ouytsel

• Koen Ponnet, U of Antwerp

• Michel Walrave, U of Antwerp

• Ellen Van Gool