FACTORS AFFECTING SEXTING BEHAVIORS AMONG SELECTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS by Heather K. Hudson B.S., Eastern Illinois University, 2006 M.P.H., University of Illinois Springfield, 2008 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree with a concentration in Health Education. Department of Health Education and Recreation in the Graduate School Southern Illinois University Carbondale June 2011 FACTORS AFFECTING SEXTING BHAVIORS i TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 Background of the Problem ................................................................................ 1 Need for the Study .............................................................................................. 3 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................... 5 Research Questions ............................................................................................. 5 Significance to Health Education ........................................................................ 6 Research Design .................................................................................................. 8 Study Sample ...................................................................................................... 8 Data Collection ................................................................................................... 9 Data Analysis ...................................................................................................... 9 Assumptions ...................................................................................................... 10 Limitations ........................................................................................................ 10 Delimitations ..................................................................................................... 11 Definitions......................................................................................................... 11 Summary ........................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................... 14 Overview ........................................................................................................... 14 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................... 14 Research Questions ........................................................................................... 14 FACTORS AFFECTING SEXTING BHAVIORS ii Computer Mediated Communication ................................................................ 15 Sexual Communication ..................................................................................... 20 Consequences of Sexting .................................................................................. 24 Review of Sexting Research ............................................................................. 31 Self-Esteem ....................................................................................................... 44 Intentions to Sext .............................................................................................. 47 Summary ........................................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 3 – METHODS .......................................................................................... 51 Overview ........................................................................................................... 51 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................... 51 Research Questions ........................................................................................... 51 Research Design ................................................................................................ 52 Sample ............................................................................................................... 52 Instrumentation ................................................................................................. 53 Pilot Study ......................................................................................................... 58 Data Collection ................................................................................................. 59 Data Analysis .................................................................................................... 59 Summary ........................................................................................................... 64 CHAPTER 4 – RESULTS ............................................................................................ 65 Overview ........................................................................................................... 65 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................... 65 Research Questions ........................................................................................... 65 Sample Demographics ...................................................................................... 66 FACTORS AFFECTING SEXTING BHAVIORS iii Analysis of Research Questions ........................................................................ 67 Summary ......................................................................................................... 102 CHAPTER 5 – SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, DISCUSSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 104 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 104 Summary of the Study .................................................................................... 104 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 107 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 110 Recommendations for Future Research .......................................................... 120 Recommendations for the Field of Health Education ..................................... 122 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... 126 APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………….150 Appendix A – Sexting Survey Instrument ...................................................... 151 Appendix B – Sex and Tech Survey Instrument ............................................ 161 Appendix C – E-mail Correspondence with Representatives from The National Campaign Granting Permission to Use Instrument ........................................ 169 Appendix D –Screenshot View of Permission to Use RSE Scale .................. 171 FACTORS AFFECTING SEXTING BHAVIORS iv LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE Table 1 Sexting Behaviors of Teenagers and Young Adults Regarding Sexually Suggestive Messages (N=1,262) ..................................................................................................... 38 Table 2 Sexting Behaviors of Teenagers and Young Adults Regarding Nude or Semi-Nude Pictures or Videos (N=1,262) ....................................................................................... 39 Table 3 Prevalence of Sexting Behaviors in Previous Studies ..................................... 43 Table 4 Attitudes, Subjective Norms, and Behaviors Component Adapted from the Sex and Tech Survey Instrument .......................................................................................... 54 Table 5 Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale Questions .......................................................... 56 Table 6 Behavioral Intention Questions and Possible Responses ................................ 57 Table 7 Instrument Scoring Method ............................................................................. 60 Table 8 Research Questions Statistical Analysis Summary .......................................... 62 Table 9 Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants ....................................... 68 Table 10 Frequencies, Percentages, and Mean Scores of Instrument Items Assessing Attitudes Toward Sexting .............................................................................................. 71 Table 11 Frequencies, Percentages, and Mean Scores of Instrument Items Assessing Subjective Norms Toward Sexting ................................................................................ 74 Table 12 Frequencies, Percentages, and Mean Scores of Instrument Items Assessing Global Self-Esteem Levels ............................................................................................ 76 Table 13 Frequencies, Percentages, and Mean Scores of Instrument Items Assessing Sexting Behavioral Intentions ....................................................................................... 78 FACTORS AFFECTING SEXTING BHAVIORS v Table 14 Descriptive Statistics for Instrument Items Assessing Sexting Behavioral Intentions for Lifetime Non-Sexters