Kelly M. Babchishin’s scientific contributions

Sexting has become an increasingly popular sexual behaviour, and with this, sexting coercion has become a new form of sexual victimization. Archival data from an anonymized community sample (18-30 years old), previously collected for a study related to consensual and unsolicited sexting was used for the current study. Approximately 1 in 4 participants (29%; 816/2812; Nwomen = 569, Nmen = 184) reported being pressured or threatened into sexting. Odds ratio analyses were used to assess psychological and childhood correlates of coercive sexting. Results found that gender (OR = .262, p < .001, 95% CI [.215, .320]), higher reported peer pressure (OR = 1.508, p < .001, 95% CI [1.402, 1.623]), and increased familial instability during childhood (OR = 3.378, p < .001, 95% CI [2.176, 5.245]) were significant correlates for experiencing coercive sexting. The current findings will help inform educational materials and prevention efforts to decrease rates of sexting victimization.

In an online sample of adults aged 18 to 30 (n = 2,828), we examined if experiencing sexting coercion victimization was correlated with demographic (e.g., sexual orientation), relationship domain variables (e.g., number and length of relationships), prior victimization, sexuality domain variables (e.g., pornography use), and sexting behaviour (e.g., frequency). Approximately 1 in 5 participants reported being pressured (22%; 620/2,828; Nmen = 125, Nwomen = 495), threatened (5%; 144/2,828; Nmen = 19, Nwomen = 125), or coerced (22%; 629/2,828; Nmen = 127, Nwomen = 502) into sending a sext. Prior victimization, greater mating effort (e.g., multiple partners, infidelity) were unique correlates of experiencing sexting coercion victimization. Alternatively, greater pornography consumption among females was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of experiencing sexting coercion victimization. The study highlights correlates that increase an individual’s susceptibility to coercive sexting. Our findings can inform interventions and future research directions.