More middle school students are engaging in "sexting" behaviors than ever before, according to a new study.
"Sexting" refers to exchanging sexually explicit content via text messages or photos. The findings published in the journal Pediatriacs claim an overall 17 percent of the participants had sent a "sext" within past six months of the study, according to Reuters Health.
"We know early adolescents are using mobile phones and all forms of technology more and more and we know that early adolescence is a time when people become engaged in sexual activity," Christopher Houck told Reuters. "So how those two connect is an important area of study
The study findings suggest 5 percent of the 420 participants sent sexually explicit messages and a nude (or semi-nude) photo. The participants were between 12 and 14 years old from five public middle schools in Rhode Island between 2009 and 2012, according to the study.
"More concerning, say the scientists, was that sexting was associated with a higher likelihood of sexual behaviors such as touching genitals, oral sex, and vaginal sex. According to the study authors, teens who sexted were four to seven times more likely to also partake in sexual activities. Students that admitted to sending pictures showed even higher rates of sexual activity," TIME reports.
According to study authors, parents should be able to have conversations about "sexting" with their children, as it is likely that they will be approached to engage in this kind of behavior.
Researchers said the middle school students who were "further along in puberty" and having trouble processing the "emotions" associated with the sexual behavior were more likely to report "sexting," Reuters reports.
"It could be that for kids who have trouble with emotional processing that it's a little bit easier to sext somebody than to say face-to-face, 'Hey, I like you' and see what that response is," Houck said.
