Sexting and teens. University of Calgary study looks at the effects and dangers

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Could sexting be affecting your teen’s mental and sexual health?

That’s one of the questions asked in a new study published by the University of Calgary.

Dr. Sheri Madigan and graduate student Camille Mori call for better education to raise awareness about digital health — here's their latest research on teen sexting @UCalgaryArts @UCalgaryFGS @owerkocentre https://t.co/5NhqMpQBn3 pic.twitter.com/bmNiyIQjaj

— U Calgary (@UCalgary) June 17, 2019

The study took in data from youth age 12-17 between 2012 to 2018.

“We wanted to look at the association between sexting and sexual behaviour and between sexting and mental health variables,” said co-author and graduate student at the U of C, Camille Mori. “We found significant associations between sexting and sexual activity and sexual behaviour and sexting and mental health variables.”

Those variables include anxiety, depression and substance use among teens.

According to the study, young people who engage in sexting are nearly four times more likely to be sexually active, but also more likely to not use any contraception if they’re sexting.

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There were more disturbing findings in the study. Those who sext are more vulnerable to sextortion, where they’re told they need to send money, or more pictures to avoid having their nude pics shown to the internet.

Mori says issues like this show a need for sexting to be included in sex-ed curriculum.

“Bringing the topic of sexting and things like digital citizenship, which is being safe, ethical and respectful in one’s online interaction, into the conversation about sex education, sexual health and healthy relationships.”

While the findings are substantial, Mori says more research still needs to be done when it comes to understanding sexting.

“Something important to note is that our research doesn’t show that sexting causes these things. Looking at the directional association, whether sexting leads to these behaviours or whether kids who engage in these behaviours are more likely to sext is still something that needs to be looked at in the future.”