Citation

Maas MK, Bray BC, Noll JG. J. Res. Adolesc. 2018; 28(3): 731-747.

Affiliation

The Pennsylvania State University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jora.12364

PMID

29152811

Abstract

This study used latent class analysis to identify patterns (i.e., classes) across a broad range of online sexual experiences among female adolescents (n = 312) and to explore offline sexual behavior and substance use correlates of as well as maltreatment differences in class membership. The following four classes were identified: Online Abstinent, Online Inclusive, Attractors, and Seekers. Maltreated female adolescents were more likely to be members of the Online Inclusive class and less likely to be members of the Online Abstinent class than nonmaltreated female adolescents. Offline sexual behaviors and substance use differentially predicted class membership. These results suggest online sexual experiences vary greatly and should not be aggregated together as a global risk factor for all female adolescents.

© 2017 Society for Research on Adolescence.

Language: en