Sexting
A Latent Profile Analysis of Greek University Students’ Sexting Profiles: Associations with Big Five Personality Traits.
Open Access: No.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the associations between sexting profiles and five factor model (FFM) personality traits among Greek university students. A sample of 2913 participants predominantly aged between 18 and 25 years (M = 22; SD = 3.54; 69.6% females) completed a self-report online questionnaire that measured sexting behaviors and FFM traits. Latent profile analysis identified five distinct profiles which were labeled uninvolved, consensual sexters, non-consensual sexters, unwanted sexters, and highly involved sexters. The different sexting profiles were associated with distinct patterns of FFM trait scores. Specifically, the uninvolved scored higher on agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness than those highly involved in sexting, consensual, non-consensual, and unwanted sexters. Furthermore, those who sent unwanted sexts were more likely to be emotionally unstable than the consensual sexters and those not involved. These findings indicate that sexting behaviors may be related to certain personality traits and emphasize the importance of considering individual differences when studying sexting behaviors. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Relevance
The university students who were “highly involved and unwanted sexters” (the latter referring to sending non-consensual sexts) scored low on Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness, which are associated with low empathy, rudeness, unreliability, antisocial and abusive behaviors, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and irresponsibility. They scored high on Neuroticism, and so tend to be emotionally unstable.
Male students “had a higher likelihood of belonging to the highly involved and the consensual sexting profiles.”
“A surprising finding of this study was that sexual orientation was related to an involvement in sexting, with non-heterosexuals scoring high on sexting. A possible explanation for this is that the Internet is a medium through which the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/ or transgendered community can interact and maintain intimate relationships with others without fear of negative social consequences, and thus this group may participate more in sexting behaviors as a way of expressing a sexual orientation which is still socially repressed.”
Citation
Kokkinos, C. M., Krommida, C., Markos, A., & Voulgaridou, I. (2024). A Latent Profile Analysis of Greek University Students’ Sexting Profiles: Associations with Big Five Personality Traits. Archives of sexual behavior, 53(3), 1129–1140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02762-9
