America
'Sexting' can boost your romantic life
New York, Aug 9
More and more adults are now
into "sexting", sending or receiving explicit content via smartphones,
which is actually ensuring sexual satisfaction in their romantic
relationships, says a study.
Eight out of 10 people surveyed
online admitted to "sexting" to their partners or friends, according to
researchers from Philadelphia-based Drexel University.
"Given the
possible implications for sexual health, it was important to
investigate the role 'sexting' plays in current romantic and sexual
relationships," said lead researcher Emily Stasko.
Greater levels of "sexting" were associated with greater sexual satisfaction, especially for those in a relationship.
Participants who identified as single (26 percent) had significantly lower overall scores for sexual satisfaction.
The
team found that greater levels of "sexting" were associated with
relationship satisfaction for all but those who identified their
relationship as "very committed".
The survey also asked about
attitudes toward sexting and found that people who "sexted" more saw the
behaviour as more fun and carefree and had higher beliefs that
"sexting" was expected in their relationships.
The results indicate "sexting" is a prevalent behaviour that adults engage in for a variety of reasons.
"Thus, the results show a robust relationship between 'sexting' and sexual and relationship satisfaction," Stasko said.
Stasko
and her co-author Pamela Geller surveyed 870 participants from the US
in the age group 18 to 82 to assess "sexting" behaviours, "sexting"
motives and relationship and sexual satisfaction.
The researchers
found that 88 percent of participants reported ever having "sexted" and
82 percent reported they had "sexted" in the past year.
Nearly
75 percent said they "sexted" in the context of a committed relationship
and 43 percent said they "sexted" as part of a casual relationship.
Sexting
has recently received growing attention as a risky activity, associated
with numerous other sexual risk-taking behaviours like unprotected sex
and negative health outcomes like sexually-transmitted infections).
"This
perspective, though, fails to account for the potential positive
effects of open sexual communication with a partner," the authors said.
The results were shared at the American Psychological Association's 123rd annual convention this weekend.