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You glance at your teen’s smartphone and see a text message light up the screen. Was that a sext you just saw? Questions flood your mind. Is this what kids are doing nowadays? Does this mean my child is having sex too?

Sexting — the exchange of sexual messages, photographs or videos via technological devices — is a relatively common occurrence among adolescents, .

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Some researchers have found links between sexting and factors such as , (for example use of drugs and alcohol) and . Others have found no evidence of these associations.

In our , we sought to resolve this uncertainty. Drawing from the results of 23 studies published between 2012 and 2018, with 41,723 youth aged 12 to 17 years, we conducted a series of meta-analyses to examine the link between sexting and sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, contraception use, delinquent behaviour, internalizing problems (for example anxiety and depression), alcohol use, drug use and smoking.

Sex, alcohol and mental health

Our findings reveal that youth who are sexting are four times more likely to be having sex. They are also five times more likely to have had multiple sexual partners and half as likely to use contraception.

A correlation between sexting and drinking does not mean one causes the other. (Shutterstock)

When looking at the links between sexting, delinquent behaviour and substance use, we found that youth who sexted were two and a half times more likely to have engaged in delinquent behaviours such as stealing and property damage.

Furthermore, they were almost four times more likely to have drunk alcohol, and were approximately three times more likely to have used drugs such as marijuana, and smoked cigarettes.

Given the over the past decade, and claims that , our team also examined the association between sexting and poor mental health. We found that youth who sexted were approximately twice as likely to have experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Sexting context matters

The results of this study may prove alarming to some; however, certain considerations are crucially important to make before condemning sexting as a dangerous or “risky” behaviour among youth.

First, the findings are correlations. While sexting is linked to sexual behaviour and mental health factors, correlational studies do not provide evidence to suggest that sexting is in any way the cause of risky behaviour or poor mental health.

Second, the risks linked to sexting may vary based on the situation in which sexting is done. Context matters. For example, surveys done with undergraduate students reveal that sexting that occurs within the context of a committed relationship has than sexting that occurs in casual relationships.

Sexting can also between partners.

The younger, the riskier

As adolescents age, . So we examined whether our findings varied depending on the age of participants. We found that links between sexting and many risk behaviours were stronger among younger compared to older adolescents.

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These results are in line with research showing that .

Talking openly with youth about sex is essential. (Shutterstock)

In terms of gender, we found that, in general, results did not differ based on whether the sexting youth was female or male. This finding is consistent with our previous research, which indicate in the prevalence of different forms of sexting.

Educating teens is key to safety

Sexting, like other aspects of adolescent and teen development, is not free from risks. But, , teen . Yet sex often remains an unbroached topic between parents and their children.

In fact, found that 71 per cent of mothers had not talked to their adolescents about sex, and that 49 per cent had no intention of doing so.

So how do we go about helping youth be safe, both online and offline?

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The absence of sex education within the home necessitates . This includes teaching adolescents about sexting.

Rather than condemning the act of sexting among youth, a more proactive approach could focus on talking openly with youth about sex, and educating young people on how to be by emphasizing ethical, respectful and safe online interactions.

If a parent or teen is concerned about videos and images being distributed without their consent, or if they are being coerced into sexting or sextortion, they should report their concerns immediately to their local police. In Canada, they can also consult and send a report to . In the United States, they can consult .

, M.Sc. student in Clinical Psychology, ; , Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology; Director, Behavioral Health and Research, , and , Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute,

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .