Does country context matter? Investigating the predictors of teen sexting across Europe

Baumgartner, Susanne E., Sumter, Sindy R., Peter, Jochen, Valkenburg, Patti M. and Livingstone, Sonia ORCID: 0000-0002-3248-9862 (2014) Does country context matter? Investigating the predictors of teen sexting across Europe. Computers in Human Behavior, 34. pp. 157-164. ISSN 0747-5632

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Abstract

Despite growing research interest in sexting, not much is known about individual and country differences in engaging in sexting. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate (a) which individual and country characteristics explain sexting and (b) whether individual predictors vary across countries. On the individual level, we investigated age, gender, sensation seeking, and internet use. On the country level, we investigated traditionalism, gross domestic product, and broadband internet penetration. The sample consisted of 14,946 adolescents (49.7% boys) aged 11-16 from 20 European countries. Data were collected as part of the EU Kids Online project. Participants were interviewed at home. Using multilevel modeling, findings indicate that on the individual level, age, sensation seeking, and frequency of internet use predicted sexting across all countries. Gender differences in sexting varied across countries. Although country characteristics (GDP, broadband internet penetration, traditional values) had no direct effect on adolescent sexting, traditionalism significantly predicted gender differences in sexting. In more traditional countries, gender differences were more pronounced than in less traditional countries, with more boys than girls engaging in sexting. In less traditional countries, gender differences were smaller.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.journals.elsevier.com/computers-in-huma...
Additional Information:	© 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Divisions:	Media and Communications
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
Date Deposited:	10 Mar 2014 09:03
Last Modified:	14 Nov 2024 02:45
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/56025

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