Longitudinal Relationships Between Attitudes Towards Sexting and Sexting: The Mediating Role of Sexually Permissive Attitudes

The main aim of this study was to investigate how early attitudes towards sexting and sexually permissive beliefs (measured at Time 1) predict later sexting behaviour (measured at Time 2) among adolescents. We collected data from 547 Croatian adolescents aged 15–18 who participated in an online survey at baseline (2022) and after one year. Results showed that attitudes toward sexting were not directly related to sexting behaviour but were directly and positively related to sexually permissive attitudes. Sexually permissive attitudes were associated with a higher frequency of sending and forwarding, but not receiving sexts. Considering the mediation by sexually permissive attitudes, we found that sending and forwarding sexting was associated with attitudes toward sexting via sexually permissive attitudes. The results of this study highlight the significant relationship between sending and forwarding sexting and adolescents’ positive attitudes toward sexual permissiveness and underscore the need for comprehensive sexuality education as an important component of educational policy for this age group.