Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40404948›Full record

ArticleArchives of sexual behavior2025

Sexting for the Right Reasons: A Longitudinal Mediation Study.

Sandra Meier, Silvia Marin-Dragu, Jennifer L McArthur, Marcus Cormier, Andronika Kelso, Simal Dolek, Julie Blais, Jill Chorney, Natalie O Rosen, Sherry H Stewart

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of sexual behavior, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sandra MeierDepartment of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. sandra.meier@iwk.nshealth.ca.
Silvia Marin-DraguDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Jennifer L McArthurDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Marcus CormierDepartment of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Andronika KelsoDepartment of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Simal DolekDepartment of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5040-2142
Julie BlaisDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Jill ChorneyDepartment of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Natalie O RosenDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Sherry H StewartDepartment of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.

Funding

Canada Foundation for Innovation 38835Canada Research Chairs 1024586CIHR 950-232098
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sexting is a common phenomenon. Sexting has been largely negatively portrayed as being linked to increased risks for poor mental well-being, cyberbullying, dating abuse, and intimate partner violence. However, sexting can also have positive effects and increase sexual well-being and relationship satisfaction. Therefore, the current study explored whether the motivations underlying sexting might help explain the divergence in its positive or negative outcomes. In a longitudinal online study, 405 emerging adults aged 18-29 years (223 women, 171 men, and 21 individuals identifying as non-binary or another gender) participated. All participants had engaged in sexting within the past three months and were in either a casual or committed relationship; they reported their sexting behaviors, autonomous and controlled motivations for sexting, as well as both positive and negative sexting outcomes at two time points, spaced six weeks apart. Structural equation modeling revealed a direct effect of more sexting behaviors (β = 0.13, p = .02) and an indirect effect via greater controlled motives (β = 0.09, p < .001) on more negative sexting outcomes. In contrast, only an indirect effect of more sexting behaviors on more positive sexting outcomes via greater autonomous motives (β = 0.12, p < .001) was observed. Results suggest instead of proclaiming abstinence from sexting, awareness should be increased as to why emerging adults engage in sexting so they can benefit from sexting while limiting any detrimental effects.

Indexed as

MotivationSexual BehaviorAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleSexual PartnersYoung AdultEmerging adultsSelf-Determination TheorySextingSexting motives

Identifiers

PMID40404948

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.