Sexting motives and sexting behavior among emerging adults in Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

Abstract

Sexting behavior is a contemporary form of sexual expression where people can send, receive, and exchange sexually suggestive content online. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has greatly exposed emerging adults to sexting behavior. The present study aimed to examine the level of engagement in sexting behavior and the sexting motives (intimacy, enhancement, self-affirmation, coping, peer pressure, partner approval) among emerging adults in Malaysia during the pandemic lockdown period. Men and individuals in a relationship were previously observed to have reported a higher engagement in sexting. Therefore, the present study also investigated the differences in gender and relationship status in sexting behavior. A cross-sectional quantitative study was adopted to recruit 252 emerging adult respondents (M_age = 22.84, SD_age = 2.05, females = 53.1%) through a purposive sampling method. The descriptive statistics indicated that nine in 10 emerging adults sexted and that an independent t-test depicted men and individuals in relationships being more likely to engage in sexting behavior. The hierarchical linear regression too showed that sexting motives of intimacy, enhancement, peer pressure, and partner approval contributed to a higher level of sexting behavior. Overall, the results may serve as resourceful input for future revisions and implementation of sexual reproductive health education.

Keywords:

• Sexting behavior
• sexting motives
• emerging adults
• COVID-19
• Malaysia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Yee Shan Goh is a research based master student. She is interested in the topic of sexting behaviour and teachers willingness to deliver sexual reproductive health in Malaysia.

Soon Aun Tan is a developmental psychologist and lecturer. His research fields include adolescent development, sexuality, and cultural studies.

Su Wan Gan is an assistant professor. Her research fields include development psychology, parenting, family contexts, processes and cross-cultural studies.