This study examined whether experiences of offline sexual coercion are associated with adolescent females' involvement in various types of sexting behaviors.
Data were obtained from 450 ethnically diverse female adolescents with an average age of 19.02 years (SD = 0.74) who were originally recruited in southeast Texas. These participants were asked about their experiences with sexual coercion and their engagement in sexting behavior (i.e., sending, requesting, and being asked for a sext, and receiving a sext without giving permission). Logistic regressions were used to analyze these relationships, while controlling for age, ethnicity, education level, living situation, and sexting behaviors in the year prior to the study. The study found that offline sexual coercion was significantly associated with sending and being asked for a naked image, as well as receiving a naked image without giving permission. These findings suggest that sexting could function as an online extension of offline forms of sexual coercion. (Publisher abstract modified)