Online sexual behaviours among Swedish youth: associations to background factors, behaviours and abuse

Socioecological Risk and Protective Factors for Sexual Victimization in Post-Secondary Students in Ireland: A Brief Report

Although numerous predictors of sexual violence (SV) have been identified, there is a need to further explore protective factors and examine the nature and strength of associations between predictors and SV outcomes using a hierarchical predictive model. Cross-sectional data from the My World Survey Post-Second Level (2019) in Ireland were used. The sample contained 8, 288 post-secondary students, 69% female, aged 18 to 25 years (M = 20.25, SD = 1.85). Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify correlates of two SV outcomes (i.e., forced/pressured to have sex and being touched in a sexual manner without consent) across societal, community, relationship, and individual levels. Approximately 25% of females and 10% of males reported being forced/pressured to have sex, whereas 55% of females and 23% of males reported being touched in a sexual manner without consent. Key predictors of SV in multivariate analyses included being female and experiencing violence in a romantic relationship, whereas discrimination, living on campus or in rented accommodation (compared with living at home) were also significant predictors of both SV outcomes. Parental conflict, sexual initiation, depressive symptoms, older age, and an avoidant coping style significantly predicted being forced/pressured to have sex, whereas being bullied and engaging in problem drinking were unique predictors of being touched sexually without consent. Findings highlight the importance of considering salient risk and protective factors at the individual, relationship, community and societal level to predict SV and effectively guide the delivery of interventions and support services for post-secondary students affected by SV.

Experiences of Online Sexual Violence: Interviews With Swedish Teenage Girls in Psychiatric Care

Research about online sexual violence (OSV) is needed to be able to better meet the needs of girls in psychiatric care. The objectives of this study are to explore experiences of online sexual violence among young female psychiatric service users. Interviews with nine girls with psychiatric care needs were analyzed with thematic analysis. The findings are summarized in four themes which contribute to the notion that online sexual violence is only one, albeit important, part of a more complex picture of violence among young girls in psychiatric care. The girls' narratives are shaped by, as well as reproducing gender norms.

Sexual Victimization in the Digital Age: A Population-Based Study of Physical and Image-Based Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents

Adolescents increasingly use social media platforms, and these practices open up new forms of sexual victimization, in particular image-based sexual abuse (IBSA). Few studies have examined prevalence rates and correlates of both physical sexual victimization (PSV) and these new forms of victimization in representative samples. We used data from 5,245 adolescent girls (53%) and 4,580 adolescent boys (47%) from the population-based Young in Oslo Study (mean age 17.1 years, SD = 0.9). Of all respondents, 2.9% had experienced IBSA, 4.3% PSV, and 1.7% both IBSA and PSV in the course of the previous 12 months. Multivariate analyses revealed that PSV victims, after control for other variables, had many characteristics described in previous studies of sexual victimization. Girls had higher prevalence rates than boys, many had been victims of other types of violence, and were part of peer groups with much use of alcohol and drugs. PSV victims also reported early intercourse onset and a higher proportion had been commercially sexually exploited. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents had higher victimization rates. Victims of both PSV and IBSA had a similar but even more pronounced profile. The IBSA victims were different: They lacked many of the traditional risk factors for sexual victimization, there were no significant gender differences in this group, and IBSA victims more often came from high socioeconomic backgrounds. In conclusion, we observe a reconfigured landscape of sexual victimization patterns among Norway adolescents due to their increasing participation on social media and digital platforms.

Teenagers' and young adults' sexual behaviour and its associations with exposure to violence, among visitors at a Youth Centre in Sweden

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate differences between teenagers and young adults in sexual behaviours and exposure to emotional, physical and/or sexual violence, and the associations between sexual behaviours and exposure to violence, among youths who visit a Youth Centre in Sweden.

METHODS

A cross-sectional web survey was used among sexually experienced teenagers, aged 15-19, and young adults 20-24 years, wherein a total of 452 participated. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were used in the study.

RESULTS

A majority had unprotected sex during the last year, namely 55.4 % of teenagers and 58.3 % of young adults. A higher proportion of teenagers reported having early sex debut, before 15 years age, compared with young adults (p = .003). A higher proportion of young adults reported having experienced a sexually transmitted infection (p = <.001). Nearly half of the teenagers (44.9 %) and the young adults (44.6 %) stated having been exposed to emotional, physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime. Associations were found between all types of exposure to violence and having unprotected sex, using alcohol or drugs together with sex, and having had three or more different sex partners during last year.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of age, there was a high proportion of youths, visiting a Youth Centre, having unprotected sex and who experienced exposure to violence. As these experiences may negatively affect youths' future sexual and reproductive health, healthcare professionals should identify youths in need or with early-in-life needs.

Online Sexual Solicitation of Children and Adolescents in a High-Risk Population

INTRODUCTION

The Internet provides a powerful potential tool for sexual predators. Experiencing trauma, including sexual abuse, can increase child and adolescent risk of experiencing online sexual solicitation.

METHOD

A retrospective chart review was conducted for the detailed information of all children and adolescents aged 8-18 years presenting to the Child Advocacy Center of large, tertiary care, Midwestern U.S. pediatric hospital with concerns of sexual abuse.

RESULTS

Three-hundred twenty-five children and adolescents were seen in the Child Advocacy Center during the 9 months; 139 (42.8%) denied talking to anyone online that they had not met offline (face to face in real life), 88 (27.1%) reported talking to individuals online that they had not met offline but never talking about sex; 65 (20%) reported online sexual solicitation with individuals they had not met offline; and 33 (10.2%) reported highest-risk behaviors online involving meeting someone offline or having sex with someone offline whom they had met online.

DISCUSSION

The number of youth involved in online sexual solicitation illustrates that children who have been sexually abused are at increased risk for sexual solicitation. This study also suggests that young children are vulnerable to online sexual solicitation. Youth engaged in these concerning online behaviors with individuals of all ages.

Four Problems in Sexting Research and Their Solutions

Despite over 10 years of research, we still know very little about people’s sexting behaviours and experiences. Our limited and, at times, conflicting knowledge about sexting is due to re-searchers’ use of inconsistent conceptual definitions of sexting, dubious measurement practices, and atheoretical research designs. In this article, we provide an overview of the history of sex-ting research and describe how researchers have contributed to the ‘moral panic’ narrative that continues to surround popular media discourse about sexting. We identify four key problems that still plague sexting research today: (1) imprudent focus on the medium, (2) inconsistent conceptual definitions, (3) poor measurement practices, and (4) a lack of theoretical frameworks. We describe and expand on solutions to address each of these problems. In particular, we focus on the need to shift empirical attention away from sexting and towards the behavioural domain of technology-mediated sexual interaction. We believe that the implementation of these solu-tions will lead to valid and sustainable knowledge development on technology-mediated sexual interactions, including sexting.

Effects of internet exposure on sexual partners and sexual risk behavior among sexually experienced college males in China: evidence from an institutional-based cross-sectional study (Preprint)

Background

As a young subgroup, college students have become the main users of mobile social networks. Considering that people can indiscriminately access explicit sexual content on the internet, coupled with the increase of HIV infections in male college students, the role of the internet in meeting sexual partners and its correlation to risky sexual behavior has become an important topic.

Objective

The aim of this study is to explore the effects of internet exposure on sexual partners and sexual risk behavior among sexually experienced male college students.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was used to collect data through a paper-based questionnaire administered to male college students recruited from colleges and gay organizations in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 1045 sexually experienced male students were incorporated in our analysis, with the following information collected: sociodemographic characteristics, sexual intercourse–related behaviors, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) knowledge. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine differences regarding basic characteristics and sexual risk behaviors between male college students who meet sexual partners via the internet and those who do not. Sequential logistic regression models were employed to examine the influence of meeting sexual partners via the internet on risky sexual behaviors after controlling for other factors.

Results

The mean age of the sexually experienced male students was 21.6 (SD 2.0) years. The likelihood of risky sexual behavior was varied, yet it was the highest for those who aim to meet paid sexual partners (145/192, 75.5% to 19/22, 86.4%), followed by those seeking partners for love or romance (258/435, 59.3%). Compared to non-internet partner seekers, internet partner seekers tended to have more casual intercourse (292/542, 53.9% versus 51/503, 10.1%), paid intercourse (32/542, 5.9% versus 12/503, 2.4%), and intercourse with same-sex partners (349/542, 64.4% versus 41/503, 8.2%); they were also more likely to use psychoactive drugs (125/349, 35.8% versus 5/41, 12.2%) and have more than 2 partners. With the increase of HIV and STD knowledge, the probability of having unprotected intercourse decreased for non-internet partner seekers. However, it increased for internet partner seekers with a rising HIV knowledge score. Sequential logistic regression showed that meeting sexual partners on the internet was statistically associated with sexual risk behaviors with multiple sexual partners (odds ratio 4.434; P<.001).

Conclusions

Meeting sexual partners via the internet is a common behavior among sexually experienced male college students, and those who meet partners on the internet exhibited higher levels of risky sexual behaviors although they had sufficient HIV and STD knowledge; this is especially true for students who aimed to find partners for sexual intercourse. Thus, more attention should be paid to young adults to address the risky sexual behaviors that may contribute to STD spread among this population.

Associations between Family Support and Online Sexual Abuse in Chilean Adolescents: The Mediational Role of Online Risk Behaviors

This study evaluated the association between perceived family support, online risk behaviors, and online sexual abuse. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study. The participants were 380 Chilean students aged 15 to 17 (M =16.12, SD = 0.59, 49.7% female, 50.3% male) who answered self-report instruments. Females experienced more online sexual abuse; however, males engaged in more online risk behaviors. The results of the regression analysis suggested that online risk behaviors was a predictor for online sexual abuse in both males and females. However, high perceived family support was only a protective factor against online risk behaviors and online sexual abuse for females. In addition, online risk behaviors was found to partially mediate the relationship between perceived family support and online sexual abuse for females only. The results of this study highlight the importance of online risk behaviors in the process of online sexual abuse. Also, the results highlighted the importance of family support as a protective factor against online sexual abuse and online risk behaviors mainly in females. For that reason, we think it is necessary to consider the gender variables in the prevention and intervention programs to face the risk of the internet during the adolescence.

The Relationship between Online Sexual Solicitation and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between online sexual solicitation (OSS) and internet accessibility, usage, and addiction in adolescents. The study was conducted with 48 adolescents who had been exposed to OSS and 48 age- and sex-matched adolescents who had not been exposed to OSS. Internet addiction (IA) was determined by the Young Internet Addiction Scale. The groups were compared in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, internet access facilities, internet use characteristics, psychiatric disorders, and IA. The results showed that the duration of daily internet use, the purpose of internet use, and the rate of IA were significantly higher in the OSS-exposed group than in the control group. Depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder were more common in the OSS group than in the control group. Results revealed that the association between OSS and IA is independent of psychiatric disorders. In conclusion, the evaluation of adolescents exposed to OSS, in terms of IA and the measures and interventions to be taken in this regard, will contribute to the prevention of new exposures. Additionally, considering that OSS may be among the possible negative consequences of IA, evaluating adolescents with IA in terms of OSS will provide significant benefits.

Online Sexual Solicitation of Children and Adolescents

Technological advances have exploded in the new millennium. The Internet provides many opportunities to enrich the lives of youth by providing greater access to learning opportunities, valuable resources, and positive social interactions with peers. However, the Internet is a relatively new and unregulated entity that can also place children and adolescents at risk for a variety of negative and potentially dangerous exposures. One such risk is online sexual solicitations and interactions with older adolescents, peers, and adults. This continuing education article will explore online sexual solicitation of child and adolescents in terms of definition, epidemiology, predictors, consequences, and implications for practice.

Sexting and Gender Violence Among Young People: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract This review aimed to systematize the studies on sexting and gender violence published between 2000 and 2016 in national and international journals. The search was performed in the databases - BVS-Psi, Psychlit, Medline, LILACS, and Oasis. We found 383 articles. After applying the exclusion criteria, 21 articles were analyzed. The results showed that sexting is not an a priori risk factor. The risk is related to variables such as the content of the messages, when it expresses violence, and age of the practitioners, indicating that the younger the age the greater the risk. It has been found that there are modalities related to gender violence, such as revenge pornography and slut-shaming, but these contents are not inherent to sexting.

Online sexual solicitation in adolescents; socio-demographic risk factors and association with psychiatric disorders, especially posttraumatic stress disorder

Technological developments and increased use of the internet created some risks for adolescents, such as online sexual solicitation (OSS). The aim of this study is to examine the sociodemographic risk factors of OSS and the association between OSS and psychiatric disorders in a psychiatric clinical sample. The study was conducted with 189 adolescents. The psychiatric evaluation was performed with DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.) based psychiatric interviews and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used. OSS was defined by questions that are used in previous studies and that predict exposure to OSS. The participants were divided into two groups and compared. In addition, the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index was answered by the participants who exposed to OSS. The prevalence of OSS was determined as 21.1%. Depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and secondary psychiatric diagnosis are significantly higher in adolescents who exposed to OSS. The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development after exposure to OSS was determined as 57.8%. These results indicate that OSS is a severe trauma that occurs at a high rate, and it is associated with psychiatric problems, especially PTSD.

Fatores de risco associados à exposição de adolescentes à violência sexual

Objetivo: analisar as evidências científicas sobre os fatores de risco associados à exposição de adolescentes à violência sexual.Síntese de conteúdo: revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada em quatro bases de dados e duas bibliotecas virtuais, sem limites do ano de publicação, utilizando-seos descritores: “delitos sexuais”, “adolescentes” e “fatores de risco”. Utilizou-se, também, a palavra-chave “violência sexual” e equivalentes, no idioma inglês. Na análise dos 22 artigos incluídos, os fatores associados à exposição dos adolescentes à violência sexual foram classificados em “abuso sexual” e “exploração sexual”. O consumo de álcool e/ou drogas foi o fator mais evidente, seguido do sexo casual, dabaixa escolaridade, da baixa renda, da violência familiar, dos relacionamentos em ambientes virtuais, da estigmatização do trabalho sexual e falta de moradia.Conclusão: os fatores apresentados devem ser considerados pela enfermagem para o reconhecimento de adolescentes vítimas de violência sexual, além de contribuir na prevenção de novos casos e na minimização dos efeitos que tal ato pode causar na vida desse público.

Visual gossiping: non-consensual 'nude' sharing among young people in Denmark

The practice of sending and receiving nude and semi-nude images without consent is gaining increasing public attention and has been identified as a new form of digital sexual violence, framing sexting as a risk behaviour. In order to account for the existence of non-consensual nude sharing among young people in Denmark, we set out to conduct an ethnographic exploration of the social processes, gender dynamics and social implications of the practice. Our analysis suggests that non-consensual sharing acts as a form of visual gossip to maintain social bonds and gendered recognition. The practice often has gendered implications as it rests on and reproduces gendered values, forming the basis for judging girls' and boys' sexual activities differently. By using the framework of visual gossip, we draw attention to how the social dynamics of gossiping shape the different violating actions tied to the nude across time and context.

Background, experience of abuse, and mental health among adolescents in out-of-home care: a cross-sectional study of a Swedish high school national sample

PURPOSE

To compare experiences for adverse events, especially sexual abuse, and mental health in a group of high school students in out-of-home care with a representative sample of peers of the same age and similar educational attainment living with their parents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 5839 students in the third year of Swedish high school, corresponding to a response rate of 59.7%, answered a study specific questionnaire. Data from 41 students living in out-of-home care were compared with data from peers not in out-of-home care in a cross-sectional analyze.

RESULTS

Students in out-of-home care had more often an immigrant background and a non-heterosexual orientation, had more often experienced physical and penetrative sexual abuse, and more often sought healthcare for mental problems. Disclosure of sexual abuse was less common, and acts of persuasion or adults' use of their social position was more common among students in out-of-home care.

CONCLUSIONS

Even where the protective factor 'senior educational attainment' is present, risks for abuse and poor mental health are evident for adolescents in out-of-home care. Disclosure of adversity, when it has occurred, ought to be higher among these adolescents with regular contact with social services, but our findings indicate tendencies for the opposite. We therefore suggest routines to be established to screen for adverse life events and mental health actively, along with general and systematic assessments of adversity and mental health during care.

Influence of the Perceived Infidelity of Online Sexual Activities (OSAs) on OSA Experiences Among Chinese Heterosexual Individuals in Committed Relationships

Previous studies have revealed that many individuals in settled relationships engage in online sexual activities (OSAs). Considering this, this study examined the influence the perceived infidelity of OSA has on the OSA experiences of individuals in such committed relationships. OSAs involve viewing sexually explicit material, seeking sexual partners, cybersex, and flirting. Taking these specific activities, we measured perceived infidelity concerning OSAs by asking our participants (N = 301) to select either "yes" or "no" in regard to whether they believed each constituted an infidelity. Further, the participants also mentioned if they had engaged in an OSA within the past 12 months and whether they considered engaging in OSA in general as an infidelity. Our results indicated that men are less likely to perceive OSAs as infidelities, and also that they engage more frequently than women in all subtypes of OSA. More specifically, individuals who did not perceive OSAs to be infidelities engaged in more sexual-partner seeking, cybersex, and flirting than their counterparts. Furthermore, perceived infidelity was found to mediate the relationship between gender and OSA experiences. The findings indicate that perceived infidelity for OSA shapes OSA experiences and contributes to gender differences in terms of opinions on and engagement with OSAs.

Excessive internet use in young women: What are the implications?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There are considerable gender differences in youth engaging in excessive internet use (EIU). This review provides updates based on the recent literature focusing on the EIU in young women to describe its implications including what it constitutes of, its correlates, sequelae and preventive and/or treatment strategies.

RECENT FINDINGS

Definition of EIU and its conceptualization still requires refinement. Recent studies indicate a changing trend towards female predominance of EIU. Women also differ in their internet use compared with men regarding their preference in the internet content and online activities, motives of use and factors related to access to the internet, including the device, sociocultural restrictions, etc. The correlates and sequelae of EIU encompass psychological, physical, biological, family and social domains that could form the basis of identifying individuals at risk and strategizing treatment.

SUMMARY

The findings indicate the need for standardization in definition and measures of EIU for better recognition of EIU and identification of its at-higher-risk females. Effective preventive and treatment measures are still limited by various methodology flaws outlined here.

Sexting: Prevalence, Predictors, and Associated Sexual Risk Behaviors among Postsecondary School Young People in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background and aims

Sending and receiving sexually suggestive or explicit images or texts (sexting) have been shown to be associated with health risk behaviors but literature about this phenomenon is scarce in Nigeria. This study looked at the prevalence, predictors, and associated sexual risk behaviors of sexting among postsecondary school young persons in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were obtained for sociodemographic characteristics and sexual orientation, sexting behavior, personality assessment (using the International Personality Item Pool Big-Five factor markers), indicators for problematic phone use (using Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale), and sexual behavior. Chi square test and logistic regression were used for data analysis with p = 0.05.

Results

Five hundred seventy-five participants were recruited, age range 14–24 years, and 46.0% were males. Twenty percent had sent sexts, while 33.2% had received sexts. Fifty-four percent had high scores in extraversion, 46.5% had moderate–severe problematic phone use. Sixteen percent had ever had sex, and 40.0% of these had multiple sexual partners. Males were more likely than females to have sent sexts (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.68–4.24). Having a high extraversion score (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.35–4.41) and moderate–severe problematic phone use (OR = 5.56, 95% CI: 2.73–11.32) was predictive of sexting. Sending and receiving of sext were significantly associated with ever having sexual intercourse (OR = 4.01, 95% CI: 2.25–7.17 and OR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.72–5.12, respectively).

Conclusion

Sexting was prevalent among postsecondary school young persons in Ibadan and was associated with male sex and problematic phone use. Intervention targeted at the identified susceptible group of young people may reduce its associated problems in this study group.

Youth, Technology, and HIV: Recent Advances and Future Directions

Technology, including mobile technologies and social media, offers powerful tools to reach, engage, and retain youth and young adults in HIV prevention and care interventions both in the USA and globally. In this report, we focus on HIV, technology, and youth, presenting a synthesis of recently published (Jan 2014-May 2015) observational and experimental studies relevant for understanding and intervening on HIV risk, prevention, and care. We present findings from a selection of the 66 relevant citations identified, highlighting studies that demonstrate a novel approach to technology interventions among youth in regard to content, delivery, target population, or public health impact. We discuss current trends globally and in the USA in how youth are using technology, as well as emergent research issues in this field-including the need for new theories for developing technology-based HIV interventions and new metrics of engagement, exposure, and evaluation.