ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the sexting research that has been summarised already in recent literature reviews. It then focuses on emerging research, including the most recent sexting prevalence statistics, coerced sexting as a risk factor for poly-victimisation and negative mental health symptoms, sexting deception and the differences in sexting with steady and committed relationship partners. In terms of prevalence, statistics vary widely based on the population studied and the way in which sexting has been measured. With regard to the personality traits of those who sext, a rather large body of work has focused on the attachment characteristics of those who send sexually-explicit messages. In terms of demographic characteristics that relate to sexting, results have been rather consistent that older teens and young adults are more likely to sext than younger youth, but sexting prevalence statistics are also low for those who are older and married.
