Dr. Temple will discuss sexting (a combination of the words sex and texting), the practice of electronically sending sexually explicit images or messages from one person to another. Sexting has received an abundance of attention in the popular press. Much of this attention has been limited to (1) legal cases in which teens who create, send, receive, store, and/or disseminate nude pictures of themselves or another teen face criminal charges including child pornography, and (2) cases in which teens are harassed and bullied as a result of the nude picture being distributed beyond the intended audience.

Although media reports often cite various examples of sexting leading to bullying, cyber-bullying, and even suicide, we understand very little about the public health importance of sexting. Using data from his ongoing longitudinal study of adolescent health, as well as a recent meta-analysis, Dr. Temple will examine the prevalence of sexting behaviors as well as their relation to dating, sex, risky sex, and psychosocial health.

Participant objectives:

• Identify the prevalence, course and consequences of teen dating violence
• Describe the positives and negatives of a connected adolescent
• Recognize the importance of screening and timely management of coerced and non-consensual texting

Presenter: Dr. Jeffrey Temple, Licensed Psychologist and Director of Behavioral Health and Research, OB/GYN, University of Texas Medical Branch

Resources:  Primer on Teen Sexting