Adolescents Sexting, Depression And Substance Use

Jun 19, 2019 | Mental health, Zeina Moukarzel

By Zeina Moukarzel

MD-Anesthesiologist, Critical Care Physician, General Physician, Addiction Medicine

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1 minute

According to a recent Canadian study (Calgary), published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics (June 17, 2019), sexting among teenagers has harmful consequences on their mental health and well-being.

Sexting is the exchange of sexual messages, photographs, or videos via technological devices.

According to this study, which is the first in this field, teens who are sexting are at higher risk for:

  • Mental health problems, mainly anxiety and depression
  • Substance use and addiction
  • Delinquency
  • Having sexual relations (4 times more than non sexting teens)
  • Having multiple sexual partners ( 5 times more than non sexting teens)
  • Having unprotected sexual relations (contraception methods), with a higher risk of Sexual Transmissible Diseases (STD) and unwanted pregnancies

There is no doubt that sexting among teenagers is on a rise, a global phenomena

However, more studies are needed to determine if teens who are sexting were already previously struggling with mental health and sexting is only a way for them to cope and reach out.

LAMSA’s note: If a teen is sexting, parents should have with him/her an open non-judgmental in open conversation, for early screening of any risky behavior.

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