Sexting na adolescência: prevalência, características do envio, saúde mental e orientação sexual

Abstract

The present integrative review aimed to examine the prevalence of sexting among adolescents, identify the characteristics of the content sent or received, and analyze the impact of this practice on mental health. The study used the English descriptors “Sexting and Adolescence and Mental Health” in the databases Virtual Health Library (BVS) and United States National Library of Medicine (PubMED). Eight articles were selected to compose the review. In general, studies that addressed consensual sexting found no direct association with symptoms of anxiety or depression, suggesting it is a typical behavior of adolescent development. Conversely, research that analyzed coercive sexting or sexting associated with emotional vulnerability showed higher levels of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The psychological impact of sexting strongly depends on the context in which it occurs. When consensual, it tends to be part of normal developmental processes. However, when marked by coercion, exposure, or emotional vulnerability, it is associated with significant psychological distress.