Images across Europe: The sending and receiving of sexual images (sexting) and associations with interpersonal violence in young people's relationships

Objective: Although a body of international evidence exists on interpersonal violence and abuse (IPVA) in young people’s relationships, little empirical research has addressed the role and impact of new technologies. This... [ view full abstract ]

Objective: Although a body of international evidence exists on interpersonal violence and abuse (IPVA) in young people’s relationships, little empirical research has addressed the role and impact of new technologies. This paper will outline the main survey findings from the Safeguarding Teenage Intimate Relationships (STIR) study on the incidence, frequency and impact of sending, receiving and sharing sexual images (sexting) in young people’s intimate relationships and the contexts in which this occurs including IPVA.

Method: A confidential survey has been completed by 4,500 young people aged 14-17 years-old in five European Countries: England; Bulgaria; Cyprus; Italy and Norway. The survey addressed online and offline forms of IPVA. The survey also measured the sending, receiving and sharing of sexual images between both casual and long-term partners and associated subjective impacts.

Results:
Rates of sexting varied considerably between countries

Most sexting was reciprocal - those who sent an image also received one

In most countries the majority of young people, irrespective of gender, who reported sending an image to a partner described a positive impact only

Young women who reported that their image had been shared by a partner reported a negative impact, in contrast the majority of boys reported a positive only impact to having their image shared.

Young women who reported IPVA were also more likely to report both pressured sexting, sharing of images against their wishes and a negative impact.

Conclusions: The paper points to the need for a more nuanced understanding of the varied contexts and experiences around sexting in order to better develop policy, practice and education in this area. The association between pressured sexting, IPVA and gender requires particular attention in preventative programmes.