New Research on Sexting and Middle Schoolers

While some research has indicated a correlation between sexting and being sexually active or engaging in risky sexual behavior for high school students, little has been uncovered for the middle school age population.

Sexting, sending or receiving sexual explicit photos or texts, has been linked in some studies to multiple sexual partners, unprotected sexual activity and even other risky behaviors such as binge drinking in high school students. 

While debate continues to swirl on this issue, researchers are trying to determine if sexting is an alternative to physical sexual activity or a part of today’s sexual behavior with technology a mainstay in teens' lives.

Past studies have included both high school and middle school age students, but the younger group has not been isolated to determine what the link between sexting and sexual behavior is at this more impressionable age.

A group of researchers recently focused on the middle age group through a questionnaire and analysis of data gathered from a Los Angles middle school.  “Sexting and Sexual Behavior among Middle School Students” by Eric Rice, Jeremy Gibbs, Hailey Winetrobe, Harmony Rhoades, Aaron Plant, Jorge Montoya and Timothy Kordic, appeared in a recent issue of Pediatrics.

The findings supported earlier results that sexting and sexual behavior are tied together. According to the study, those who reported receiving a sext were six times more likely to report being sexually active and those who sent a sext were almost four times more likely to report being sexually active. “As has been found consistently with young adults and high school–aged adolescents, sexting and sexual activity go hand-in-hand,” the study says. 

Due to these results that support earlier conclusions, the authors believe pediatricians should begin discussing sexting with adolescents as this may prompt conversations regarding sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention. The authors also feel sexting and associated risks should become part of middle school sex education.

As always, parents and adults of influence in teens’ lives can strive to combat risky behavior by discussing issues such as sexting.


Check back later this week as discuss apps