Sexting for the Right Reasons: A Longitudinal Mediation Study.

Sexting is a common phenomenon. Sexting has been largely negatively portrayed as being linked to increased risks for poor mental well-being, cyberbullying, dating abuse, and intimate partner violence. However, sexting can also have positive effects and increase sexual well-being and relationship satisfaction. Therefore, the current study explored whether the motivations underlying sexting might help explain the divergence in its positive or negative outcomes. In a longitudinal online study, 405 emerging adults aged 18-29 years (223 women, 171 men, and 21 individuals identifying as non-binary or another gender) participated. All participants had engaged in sexting within the past three months and were in either a casual or committed relationship; they reported their sexting behaviors, autonomous and controlled motivations for sexting, as well as both positive and negative sexting outcomes at two time points, spaced six weeks apart. Structural equation modeling revealed a direct effect of more sexting behaviors (β = 0.13, p = .02) and an indirect effect via greater controlled motives (β = 0.09, p < .001) on more negative sexting outcomes. In contrast, only an indirect effect of more sexting behaviors on more positive sexting outcomes via greater autonomous motives (β = 0.12, p < .001) was observed. Results suggest instead of proclaiming abstinence from sexting, awareness should be increased as to why emerging adults engage in sexting so they can benefit from sexting while limiting any detrimental effects.