Volume 49, August 2015, Pages 526–531
Highlights
- I surveyed 366 adolescents (13–17 years) about their technology use and sexual development.
- I examined which technologies mediate changes in sexual development over a two-year period.
- Higher levels of texting were linked to gains in oral sex and sexual intercourse experience over time.
Abstract
Purpose
Few studies link technology use to normative sexual outcomes despite concerns that high use may be accelerating sexual development. This study used longitudinal online survey data to predict sexual development (having had a boyfriend or girlfriend, first oral sex, first intercourse) and tests for mediation by four types of technology use common among adolescents: texting (from a mobile phone), general Internet/computer use, video gaming, and watching television.
Methods
Participants were 366 adolescents (37% male; 13–17 years) from eight Eastern Canadian high schools. All participants completed a range of measures assessing demographic information, sexual and relationship histories, and recent use of technologies. Participants (72%) completed the survey at a follow-up assessment two years later.
Results
After adjusting for age, higher levels of texting mediated the relationships in reports of both oral sex and sexual intercourse over time. The association between texting and sexual intercourse was moderated by parental closeness. No other technology was linked to sexual outcomes.
Conclusions
Texting appears to have unique features not shared by the other technologies, possibly related to its highly interactive nature. Insights regarding these outcomes are of value given the rapid uptake of new technologies by youth. Findings are discussed in terms of the role of technology in helping to meet intimacy and relational needs common to adolescents.
Keywords
- Technology;
- Texting;
- Internet;
- Adolescents;
- Sexual behavior
The study was supported by funding from the Canada Research Chair in Adolescents’ Sexual Health Behaviour held by Lucia F. O’Sullivan, Ph.D. The author thanks Mary Byers for her help with data collection.<
Address: Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada. Tel.: +1 (506) 458 7698.
;