Sex-Related Online Behaviors and Adolescents’ Body and Sexual Self-Perceptions

Suzan Doornwaard; D.S. Bickham; Michael Rich; W.M.A. Vanwesenbeeck; Regina van den Eijnden; Tom ter Bogt

doi:10.1542/peds.2014-0592

Sex-Related Online Behaviors and Adolescents’ Body and Sexual Self-Perceptions

Suzan Doornwaard, D.S. Bickham, Michael Rich, W.M.A. Vanwesenbeeck, Regina van den Eijnden, Tom ter Bogt

Youth in Changing Cultural Contexts

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study investigated: (1) the prevalence and development of 2 receptive (sexually explicit Internet material [SEIM] use and sexual information seeking) and 2 interactive (cybersex and general social networking site [SNS] use) online behaviors in adolescence; (2) whether development of these behaviors predict adolescents’ body and sexual self-perceptions; and (3) whether parental strategies regarding adolescents’ Internet use reduce engagement in sex-related online behaviors.

METHODS: Four-wave longitudinal data among 1132 seventh- to 10th-grade Dutch adolescents (mean age at wave 1: 13.95 years; 52.7% boys) were collected. Developmental trajectories of sex-related online behaviors were estimated by using latent growth curve modeling. Self-perception outcomes at wave 4 and parental strategies predicting online behaviors were investigated by adding regression paths to growth models.

RESULTS: Boys occasionally and increasingly used SEIM. Patterns for girls’ SEIM use and boys’ and girls’ sexual information seeking and cybersex were consistently low. SNS use, however, was a common, daily activity for both. Higher initial levels and/or faster increases in sex-related online behaviors generally predicted less physical self-esteem (girls’ SNS use only), more body surveillance, and less satisfaction with sexual experience. Private Internet access and less parental rule setting regarding Internet use predicted greater engagement in sex-related online behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS: Although most sex-related online behaviors are not widespread among youth, adolescents who engage in such behaviors are at increased risk for developing negative body and sexual self-perceptions. Particular attention should be paid to adolescents’ SNS use because this behavior is most popular and may, through its interactive characteristics, elicit more critical self-evaluations. Prevention efforts should focus on parents’ role in reducing risky sex-related online behaviors.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1103-1110
Number of pages	8
Journal	Pediatrics
Volume	134
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-0592
Publication status	Published - 2014

Keywords

adolescence
development
internet
online sexual behavior
parenting strategies
social networking site

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@article{a40c3c10d08e48f2bc53f818c9d5bebd,

title = "Sex-Related Online Behaviors and Adolescents{\textquoteright} Body and Sexual Self-Perceptions",

abstract = "BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study investigated: (1) the prevalence and development of 2 receptive (sexually explicit Internet material [SEIM] use and sexual information seeking) and 2 interactive (cybersex and general social networking site [SNS] use) online behaviors in adolescence; (2) whether development of these behaviors predict adolescents{\textquoteright} body and sexual self-perceptions; and (3) whether parental strategies regarding adolescents{\textquoteright} Internet use reduce engagement in sex-related online behaviors.METHODS: Four-wave longitudinal data among 1132 seventh- to 10th-grade Dutch adolescents (mean age at wave 1: 13.95 years; 52.7% boys) were collected. Developmental trajectories of sex-related online behaviors were estimated by using latent growth curve modeling. Self-perception outcomes at wave 4 and parental strategies predicting online behaviors were investigated by adding regression paths to growth models.RESULTS: Boys occasionally and increasingly used SEIM. Patterns for girls{\textquoteright} SEIM use and boys{\textquoteright} and girls{\textquoteright} sexual information seeking and cybersex were consistently low. SNS use, however, was a common, daily activity for both. Higher initial levels and/or faster increases in sex-related online behaviors generally predicted less physical self-esteem (girls{\textquoteright} SNS use only), more body surveillance, and less satisfaction with sexual experience. Private Internet access and less parental rule setting regarding Internet use predicted greater engagement in sex-related online behaviors.CONCLUSIONS: Although most sex-related online behaviors are not widespread among youth, adolescents who engage in such behaviors are at increased risk for developing negative body and sexual self-perceptions. Particular attention should be paid to adolescents{\textquoteright} SNS use because this behavior is most popular and may, through its interactive characteristics, elicit more critical self-evaluations. Prevention efforts should focus on parents{\textquoteright} role in reducing risky sex-related online behaviors.",

keywords = "adolescence, development, internet, online sexual behavior, parenting strategies, social networking site",

author = "Suzan Doornwaard and D.S. Bickham and Michael Rich and W.M.A. Vanwesenbeeck and {van den Eijnden}, Regina and {ter Bogt}, Tom",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1542/peds.2014-0592",

language = "English",

volume = "134",

pages = "1103--1110",

journal = "Pediatrics",

issn = "0031-4005",

publisher = "American Academy of Pediatrics",

number = "6",

}

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T1 - Sex-Related Online Behaviors and Adolescents’ Body and Sexual Self-Perceptions

AU - Doornwaard, Suzan

AU - Bickham, D.S.

AU - Rich, Michael

AU - Vanwesenbeeck, W.M.A.

AU - van den Eijnden, Regina

AU - ter Bogt, Tom

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study investigated: (1) the prevalence and development of 2 receptive (sexually explicit Internet material [SEIM] use and sexual information seeking) and 2 interactive (cybersex and general social networking site [SNS] use) online behaviors in adolescence; (2) whether development of these behaviors predict adolescents’ body and sexual self-perceptions; and (3) whether parental strategies regarding adolescents’ Internet use reduce engagement in sex-related online behaviors.METHODS: Four-wave longitudinal data among 1132 seventh- to 10th-grade Dutch adolescents (mean age at wave 1: 13.95 years; 52.7% boys) were collected. Developmental trajectories of sex-related online behaviors were estimated by using latent growth curve modeling. Self-perception outcomes at wave 4 and parental strategies predicting online behaviors were investigated by adding regression paths to growth models.RESULTS: Boys occasionally and increasingly used SEIM. Patterns for girls’ SEIM use and boys’ and girls’ sexual information seeking and cybersex were consistently low. SNS use, however, was a common, daily activity for both. Higher initial levels and/or faster increases in sex-related online behaviors generally predicted less physical self-esteem (girls’ SNS use only), more body surveillance, and less satisfaction with sexual experience. Private Internet access and less parental rule setting regarding Internet use predicted greater engagement in sex-related online behaviors.CONCLUSIONS: Although most sex-related online behaviors are not widespread among youth, adolescents who engage in such behaviors are at increased risk for developing negative body and sexual self-perceptions. Particular attention should be paid to adolescents’ SNS use because this behavior is most popular and may, through its interactive characteristics, elicit more critical self-evaluations. Prevention efforts should focus on parents’ role in reducing risky sex-related online behaviors.

AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study investigated: (1) the prevalence and development of 2 receptive (sexually explicit Internet material [SEIM] use and sexual information seeking) and 2 interactive (cybersex and general social networking site [SNS] use) online behaviors in adolescence; (2) whether development of these behaviors predict adolescents’ body and sexual self-perceptions; and (3) whether parental strategies regarding adolescents’ Internet use reduce engagement in sex-related online behaviors.METHODS: Four-wave longitudinal data among 1132 seventh- to 10th-grade Dutch adolescents (mean age at wave 1: 13.95 years; 52.7% boys) were collected. Developmental trajectories of sex-related online behaviors were estimated by using latent growth curve modeling. Self-perception outcomes at wave 4 and parental strategies predicting online behaviors were investigated by adding regression paths to growth models.RESULTS: Boys occasionally and increasingly used SEIM. Patterns for girls’ SEIM use and boys’ and girls’ sexual information seeking and cybersex were consistently low. SNS use, however, was a common, daily activity for both. Higher initial levels and/or faster increases in sex-related online behaviors generally predicted less physical self-esteem (girls’ SNS use only), more body surveillance, and less satisfaction with sexual experience. Private Internet access and less parental rule setting regarding Internet use predicted greater engagement in sex-related online behaviors.CONCLUSIONS: Although most sex-related online behaviors are not widespread among youth, adolescents who engage in such behaviors are at increased risk for developing negative body and sexual self-perceptions. Particular attention should be paid to adolescents’ SNS use because this behavior is most popular and may, through its interactive characteristics, elicit more critical self-evaluations. Prevention efforts should focus on parents’ role in reducing risky sex-related online behaviors.

KW - adolescence

KW - development

KW - internet

KW - online sexual behavior

KW - parenting strategies

KW - social networking site

U2 - 10.1542/peds.2014-0592

DO - 10.1542/peds.2014-0592

M3 - Article

SN - 0031-4005

VL - 134

SP - 1103

EP - 1110

JO - Pediatrics

JF - Pediatrics

IS - 6

ER -

Sex-Related Online Behaviors and Adolescents’ Body and Sexual Self-Perceptions

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