Are Motivations and Consequences for Sexting with Boys and Men the Same for Sexually Diverse and Heterosexual Girls?

Adolescent sexually diverse girls with dual sexual attraction face greater sexual and reproductive health risks for sexually transmitted infections and adolescent pregnancy than heterosexual girls. However, little is known about whether sexual risks among sexually diverse girls extend to differences in approach and avoidance sexting motivations and their associations to sexual consequences. A sample of 200 cisgender girls (N = 90 sexually diverse, 110 heterosexual) participated in an online survey of sexting experiences with boys and men. Sexually diverse participants were more motivated to sext for sexual expression, popularity/peer pressure, body image, and coercion than heterosexual participants and reported more negative sexting consequences. There were no differences in sexual subjectivity and both groups reported comparable levels of positive sexting consequences. Stratified regression analyses indicated no group differences in the associations between sexting motivations and consequences. Findings highlight sexting motivations with boys/men as a potential risk factor for cisgender girls, with negative consequences more prominent among sexually diverse girls. Sex education programs should consider incorporating “safer sexting” practices and digital sexual communication skills to mitigate negative sexting experiences and consequences with special attention to the experiences of sexually diverse girls.