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Sexting common behavior among US teens - study

NEARLY 30 percent of US teenagers are sexting, sending nude photos via email or text, according to a study that shows the behavior is more common than previously thought.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch also found that more than half of teens have been asked to send a nude photo of themselves to someone, and 31 percent had requested a naked picture to be sent to them.
"Sexting is a prevalent behavior among teens and it may be a fairly reliable indicator of actual sexual behavior," said Dr Jeff Temple, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the lead author of the study.
Unlike earlier online research and polls and a smaller published study on sexting, Temple's findings, which are based on a survey of nearly 1,000 students in public high schools in southeast Texas, indicate a higher rate of sexting among teens.
"I think this is a more accurate representation of high school students," he explained, referring to other studies. "Our results are on the higher end."
The teens in the study, which is published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, ranged in age from 14 to 19 years old, but the vast majority was 15 and 16. Boys were much more likely to ask for a nude photo to be sent to them. But in some cases girls also took the initiative.
Although sexting, which Temple described as a smartphone phenomenon, was common with teens, many admitted that they were uncomfortable with the behavior.



 

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