The Impact of Sexting on Mental Health
The act of sending exclusive and sexy texts to one’s spouse is known as sexting (Temple, 2015). The growth of technology, which increases people’s online visibility, adds to a high rate of sexting in adults and teenagers (Henderson, 2011). Peer pressure, the need for affirmation, and social media presence are all factors that contribute to sexting (Weisskirch & Delevi, 2011). People who surround themselves with sexting pals are more likely to succumb to peer pressure and send similar texts to fit in (Scholes-Balog, Francke & Hemphill, 2016). People who have low self-esteem and seek for validation from their partners may send nudes to get positive feedback (Scholes-Balog, Francke & Hemphill, 2016). People who have low self-esteem and seek for validation from their partners may send nudes to get positive feedback (Scholes-Balog, Francke & Hemphill, 2016). Lastly, social media makes sexting seem okay. People post to each other sexual texts on Facebook and Twitter thus making it look like a trend. Sexting, however, does indeed have consequences which are far fetching and irreversible. For instance, the texts may land in the wrong hands, and they could be shared with the wrong people (Temple, 2015). As such, the messages or nude pictures may also spoil one’s reputation and hence impact negatively on their relationships and careers. This research proposal seeks to unveil the impact of sexting on the mental health of adolescents and adults. The paper will analyze different literature to reveal what scholars unearthed regarding this issue.
Research Question
Does sexting affect the mental health of adults and teenagers?
Aim
The objective of this research is to assess how sexting among teenagers and adults affects their mental health. The study seeks to articulate factors that facilitate sexting and how individuals get hooked on it. The study will explore how setting contributes to life-threatening psychological illness like stress and ulcers and way people can regulate that to live a healthy life. This research proposal will discuss ways in which sexting impacts an individual; thoughts, personality, and productivity. The paper will offer an educative platform to individuals who may be addicted to sexting by educating them on the effects that may have on their careers, and personal lives.
Literature Review
Mental health encompasses a person’s emotional, physiological and their social status (Temple, 2015). Morelli (et al., 2016) contends that sexting does affect a person’s mental health and this reflects on the life that they live after a disaster. For instance, sexting creates a false bond between the sharing parties (Henderson, 2011). The recipient can also use the pictures to intimidate the sender to gain favors. Henderson (2011) asserts that the attachment is also compounded by the fact that people who sext are likely to be intimate and this also gives them the courage to send each other nude pictures. When such partners separate after that, one of the aggrieved parties of both is likely to suffer an emotional trauma (Hudson, 2011).
According to Morelli, Bianchi, Baiocco, Pezzuti & Chirumbolo (2016), sexting is a form of exerting one’s power and dominance towards an individual or group. With the rising incidence of socialites, young people are increasingly tempted to showcase their naked body to enhance their popularity and to increase their fame (Henderson, 2011).However, sexting may contribute significantly to body shaming (Davis, Powell, Gordon & Kershaw, 2016). Some teenagers have committed suicide after their naked pictures circulated on social media (Gordon-Messer, Bauermeister, Grodzinski & Zimmerman, 2013). The public is hence likely to criticize the naked body and making all negative remarks. As such, the victim often gets into a depression, and they are likely to suffer long-term illnesses like ulcers (Henderson, 2011).
Sexting encourages promiscuity among the teenagers and adults (Henderson, 2011). The steamy texts are likely to arouse the contributing parties who may hence choose to engage in sex with the people they are flirting with (Gordon-Messer et al., 2013). Sexual unfaithfulness in a marriage or in teenagers who are dating impacts negatively on one’s self-esteem and mental wellbeing since the partners who are cheated on start feeling unworthy and inadequate (Scholes-Balog, Francke & Hemphill, 2016). If caught, the guilty partner may feel excess guilt and look for immediate solutions such as sexual pornography or divorce which worsens the problem (Weisskirch & Delevi, 2011). Married couples often cite randy texts that they partners send to other parties as their primary reason for wanting to separate from their spouses (Gordon-Messer et al., 2013). Teenagers on the other end are likely to engage in random sex with strangers because the sexting tickles their imagination and prompts them to act on their feelings (Hudson, 2011).
Henderson (2011) warns that sexting could violate people’s privacy. Due to technological advancement, it is easy for the recipients to circulate the pictures on different platforms and this violates the very essence of their privacy (Scholes-Balog et al., 2016). The images may reach a person’s family members which lead to shame and disappointment (Henderson, 2011). Such incidences are likely to affect the participants who in turn may choose to disintegrate from the society and become antisocial (Scholes-Balog et al., 2016). The teenagers hence become antisocial and some starts abusing drugs so that they can numb the pain (Gordon-Messer, Bauermeister, Grodzinski & Zimmerman, 2013).
Although sexting has negative consequences, it can have a positive effect on partners. Sexting brings forth excitement in a relationship (Weisskirch & Delevi, 2011). Weisskirch and Delevi (2011) argue that couples that sext text often engages in more sex which ultimately enhances their bond and their relationship is likely to last long. It takes a high level of vulnerability to send naked pictures to one’s parties, and this also signals that the partners are in touch with each other (Weisskirch & Delevi, 2011). There is a need, however, to block all leakages outlets to ensure that the privacy between the couple is maintained.
Significance of the Study
The proposal will fill in the gap that other researchers have left regarding sexual and mental health. The study will keen to unravel the relationship that sexting has on the psychological well-being of teenagers and adults and how that impacts on their personality, careers, and relationships. Research shows that people who are always flirting with other people besides their partners are likely to find them attractive and sexually engage with them. Sexting may lead to depression, reduced work productivity, low self-esteem, and promiscuity. This study will help couples find solutions to some of the challenges that they could be facing and ways to build new and healthy relationships. People will also learn about the benefits that sexting can have on them and ways in which they can positively use that to their advantage. Through this study, people the teenagers will engage in productive behaviors since they understand the implications of their actions. Further, people will also be keen and choose whom they send the explicit texts less they land into the wrong hands. Hopefully, this study will help establish a new theoretical framework on the link between sexting and mental health disorders.
Methodology
Participants
The research sample will consist of 100 participants. About 40 people will be teenagers from different institutions across the California state. 60 random adults will be interviewed on the same to avoid having a biased stand on the information.
Sampling Method
The participants will randomly be selected from different organizations and school to get a clear perception on the subject.
Methodology
This will be a qualitative research which will use interviews and case study to get data. A focus group discussion will also help to evaluate people’s opinion on sexting and how it impacts their life. A case study will entail assessing incidences in the past where sexting has negatively affected the mental health of an individual. The case studies will be drawn from publicized data and online posts. For analysis, the research will use correlation analysis to establish the relationship between sexting and the mental health of an individual. The study will also inculcate the use deductive and inductive reasoning to conclude on the same subject.
Design Framework
The design framework will be non- experimental. There will be an application of different theories to address the behaviors of people who engage in sexting and its mental impact.
Data Collection Method
The data collection methods will be interviews and focus groups. The interviews will be oral and written. The recorded interviews will contain open-ended questions to allow the participants contribute extensively on the subject.
Ethical Considerations
Sexting is a sensitive issue, and hence most people may not be willing to disclose full information about them to guard their privacy. As such, the scholars will ensure that they do not publish the names of the participants or the institutions where they come from. Further, names of the participants in various forums will be changed to protect their integrity. The researchers will also get informed consent from the members before publishing any information about them. Due to the nature of the research, there is a possibility of having explicit and dirty language in writing. The researchers will, however, refrain from falling into the temptation and instead use a formal, respectful language. The participants will also voluntarily participate in the study and hence will not be coerced to give any information regarding this matter.
Scope and Problems
This research paper will focus on teenagers between the ages of sixteen and nineteen and adults not exceeding 35years. The study will focus on college students and graduates to also assess their attitudes on sexting and how it impacts their lives. The information gathered from this research will be limited by the replies and the data that we shall get from the interviewees. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, it may be hard for most people to be open with their subject as they would feel that it will infringe on their privacy. As such, the research will have to rely on the information gathered from the mass media, social media and by observation. This study may also be limited by time. Gathering enough data for this proposal requires that one travels over various towns to find out what they feel about this issue. The researcher may however not lack enough time and money to conduct the random surveys. The research may hence be biased because information will come from a limited section in the society. The researcher will also require the permission of the participants to see some of the nudes and texts that they send to each other.
References
Benotsch, E. G., Snipes, D. J., Martin, A. M., & Bull, S. S. (2013). Sexting, substance use, and sexual risk behavior in young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(3), 307-313.
Davis, M. J., Powell, A., Gordon, D., & Kershaw, T. (2016). I want your sext: Sexting and sexual risk in emerging adult minority men. AIDS Education and Prevention, 28(2), 138-152.
Gordon-Messer, D., Bauermeister, J. A., Grodzinski, A., & Zimmerman, M. (2013). Sexting among young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(3), 301-306.
Henderson, L. (2011). Sexting and sexual relationships among teens and young adults. McNair Scholars Research Journal, 7(1), 9.
Hudson, H. K. (2011). Factors affecting sexting behaviors among selected undergraduate students. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Morelli, M., Bianchi, D., Baiocco, R., Pezzuti, L., & Chirumbolo, A. (2016). Sexting, psychological distress and dating violence among adolescents and young adults. Psicothema, 28(2).
Scholes-Balog, K., Francke, N., & Hemphill, S. (2016). Relationships Between Sexting, Self-Esteem, and Sensation Seeking Among Australian Young Adults. Sexualization, Media, & Society, 2(2), 2374623815627790.
Temple, J. R. (2015). A Primer on Teen Sexting. JAACAP Connect, 2(4), 6-8.
Weisskirch, R. S., & Delevi, R. (2011). “Sexting” and adult romantic attachment. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(5), 1697-1701.
