Sexting is more common than previously thought, as a new study has found that 88 percent of U.S. adults have done it and 96 percent of them are encouraging others to do it.
Sexting is the act of sending or receiving sexual text messages or photos using a smartphone. Earlier studies have associated sexting with increased sexual behaviors among teens, which could lead to risk behaviors in the long run, HNGN previously reported. However, the new study claims that there is also a benefit to sexting.
Emily Stasko of Drexel University and her colleagues surveyed 870 participants between ages 18 and 82. The questions were designed to gauge the participants' sexting behaviors, sexting motives, and relationship and sexual satisfaction.
The findings showed that 88 percent of the respondents admitted to sexting, and 82 percent of them had done it within the past year. Nearly 75 percent of them were in a committed relationship, while 43 percent were in casual relationships.
Further analysis revealed a link between sexting and greater sexual satisfaction, as well as increased relationship satisfaction to those who have "very committed" relationships.
"This research indicates that sexting is a prevalent behavior that adults engage in for a variety of reasons," Stasko said in a news release. "These findings show a robust relationship between sexting and sexual and relationship satisfaction."
The study highlights the positive benefit of sexting in keeping relationships healthy.
"I actually recommend sexting - particularly the texting part of sexting - for [couples] to show desire for each other," Patti Britton, a clinical sexologist and interim dean of the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco, told The Los Angeles Times.
However, should you want to use sexting to boost your relationship with your partner, keep in mind that you will be using technology and the danger of your private, intimate conversation being exposed globally is not impossible.
The study was presented on Aug. 8 at the American Psychological Association's 123rd Annual Convention.
