NCJ Number
208623
Journal
Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: 2004 Pages: 343-363
Date Published
2004
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the literature concerning youths’ online sexual activities and how they relate to their sexual development and mental health.
Abstract
Youths between the ages of 12 and 24 years have become the largest group using the Internet for communication purposes, spurring research interest in their online sexual activities. Online sexual activities (OSA) are described as any activity on the Internet that involves sexuality “for the purposes of recreation, entertainment, exploration, support, education, commerce, and/or seeking out sexual or romantic partners.” Since adolescence is a key time for relational and sexual development, it is crucial that social scientists and mental health professionals understand the online experiences of youth so that their proper development may be supported. The authors review the research literature concerning the OSA of youths, including prevalence estimates and types of activities engaged in, as well as the research pertaining to youths’ reactions to online sexually explicit material. Problematic Internet use is also explored and includes use patterns that interfere with personal functioning and result in dependency. The relationship between problematic Internet use and mental health is further explored as the authors summarize the research pertaining to how OSA may result in maladaptive psychosocial and sexual development, including sexual compulsivity. Finally, the treatment literature is briefly reviewed and several recommendations are offered to educators, therapists, and researchers working in the field of human sexuality. Among these recommendations is the call to update sexual education programs to reflect the latest data on Internet sexuality. References