Examining Adolescent Sexting, Sexual Behaviour, and Mental Health Using Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Analyses

Mori, Camille Misora

Examining Adolescent Sexting, Sexual Behaviour, and Mental Health Using Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Analyses

dc.contributor.advisor	Madigan, Sheri L.
dc.contributor.author	Mori, Camille Misora
dc.contributor.committeemember	Schwartz, Kelly Dean
dc.contributor.committeemember	Boon, Susan D.
dc.contributor.committeemember	Kopala-Sibley, Daniel C.
dc.date	2020-11
dc.date.accessioned	2020-07-28T20:30:40Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-28T20:30:40Z
dc.date.issued	2020-07-21
dc.description.abstract	Introduction: Much of the research on adolescent sexting has been dedicated to understanding associated risks, such as mental health problems, substance use, and risky sexual behaviours. However, the literature has yielded inconsistent findings. Moreover, results have largely been based on variable-centered analytical approaches, which do not capture individual differences in sexting behaviours. Objectives: 1) Consolidate results examining sexting and associated risks via a meta-analysis in order to clarify inconsistent findings; 2) Use a person-centered analysis to assess heterogeneous subgroups of youth that display differential engagement in sexting and sexual behaviours. Methods: The current thesis is presented in two parts. Study 1 used a meta-analysis to synthesize results from 23 studies and 41,723 participants (52.1% female; Mage = 14.9). It examined associations between sexting and variables related to sexual behaviour and mental health. Sex, age, publication date, and study quality were examined as moderators. Study 2 used a latent class analysis with data from a sample of 894 youth (55.8% female; Mage = 17.04), from a longitudinal study based in southeast Texas. Classes were identified through participants’ patterns of responses to sexting and sexual behaviour indicator variables. Sex and ethnicity were analyzed as predictors, and depressive symptoms as an outcome, of class membership. Results: Study 1: The meta-analysis found significant associations between sexting and sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, lack of contraception use, delinquent behaviour, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and substance use. Moderator analyses revealed that associations were stronger among younger adolescents. Study 2: The latent class analysis revealed four distinct classes: No sexting-Low sex (42.2%), Sexting-Low sex (4.5%), No sexting-moderately risky sex (28.3%), and Sexting-Moderately risky sex (24.9%). Females and youth identifying as an ethnic minority were less likely to be in groups characterized by higher rates of sexting. Group membership predicted depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Through the use of both variable-centered (meta-analysis) and person-centred analyses (latent class analysis), the current thesis clarifies results pertaining to sexting and correlated risks, and lends nuance to broad correlational findings through the examination of individual differences. Taken together, results can be used to inform initiatives aimed at educating youth, parents, and teachers about adolescent sexting.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Mori, C. M. (2020). Examining Adolescent Sexting, Sexual Behaviour, and Mental Health Using Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Analyses (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/38041
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112338
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Arts	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	adolescence	en_US
dc.subject	sexting	en_US
dc.subject	mental health	en_US
dc.subject	latent class analysis	en_US
dc.subject	meta-analysis	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Social Sciences	en_US
dc.title	Examining Adolescent Sexting, Sexual Behaviour, and Mental Health Using Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Analyses	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Psychology – Clinical	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US