“To feel close when miles apart”: qualitative analysis of motivations to sext in a relationship

Abstract

The current study sought to explore the motivations adults have for engaging in sexting behaviours with their relationship partners. Previous research mainly focuses on emerging adult and adolescent populations. With estimates of adults engaging in sexting approaching 50%, the current study used a qualitative approach to analyse responses from participants about their motivations to sext their relationship partners. With 157 (79 male) valid responses, the majority (86) of respondents identified sex related reasons for engaging in sexting. However, a sizeable minority (50) identified a non-sex related reason of physical distance from their partner(s) as a motivation to sext. This unique finding highlights the benefit that individuals who are physically separated from their partners gain by engaging in sexting. Participants in the current study shared aspects of engaging in sexting that were similar to other motivations found in previous research on sexting, but they framed these within the construct of being physically separated from their relationship partner(s). The results imply that distance may be an underlying motivation for some adults who engage in sexting behaviours with their partner(s).

Keywords:

• Mobile phone use
• relationships
• sexting
• sexual communication

Disclosure statement

The authors, both collectively and individually, have no conflicts of interests to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joseph M. Currin

Joseph M. Currin, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor of Counseling Psychology at Texas Tech University. His main research interests include using mixed methods to explore the sexual health, sexual behaviour, and sexuality of sexual and gender minoritized individuals that live in socio-politically conservative areas as well as sexual partner seeking using digital technologies.

Lauren A. Pascarella

Lauren A. Pascarella, MA, is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Texas Tech University. Her research interests include studying factors associated with child anxiety as well as the treatment of child anxiety.

Randolph D. Hubach

Randolph D. Hubach, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor in the Department of Rural Health at Oklahoma State University Centre for Health Sciences. His research interests include using community engaged principles to address sexuality-related health disparities, sexual behavior, LGBT population health, and HIV/AIDS within rural and urban communities.