Examining relations between sexualizing media exposure and sexting attitudes and behaviors among U.S. adolescents

Stevens Aubrey, Jennifer; Gahler, Heather; Daniels, Elizabeth A.; Choi, Hye Jeong; Speno, Ashton Gerding

Abstract

Based on social cognitive processes (Bandura, 2009), sexualizing media likely provide adolescents with credible role models for their own sexualized self-presentation in other mediated contexts, such as sexting. A survey of 6,093 U.S. adolescents was conducted (Mage = 15.27, SD = 1.37; 69.1% cisgender girls; 26.8% cisgender boys, 4.2% gender-minority participants) to examine relations between three types of sexualizing media exposure (reality television, music videos, pornography) and active sexting behaviors (i.e., requesting and sending). Among cisgender boys, exposure to sexually oriented reality television was positively related to active sexting behaviors, but this link was not found for cisgender girls or gender- minority participants. Music video exposure was related to active sexting behaviors only among cisgender boys, and pornography consumption was positively related to active sexting behaviors among all gender groups. A positive outcome expectancy (i.e., sexting is fun) consistently mediated these relations. A negative outcome expectancy (i.e., sexting is risky) only mediated the relations between pornography consumption and active sexting behaviors among cisgender girls. Results are discussed in light of social cognitive theory (Bandura, 2009) and the 3AM Model (Wright, 2011).

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 9, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Publication Date: Sep 9, 2024
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 10, 2025
• Print ISSN: 0004-0002
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-2800
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 53
• Pages: 4065–4078
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02984-5
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12779047