The role of family functioning in shaping sexting behaviors among young adults

Sexting refers to the sharing of explicit messages, images, videos through digital platforms. Research shows that family dynamics and parenting styles significantly impact young adults' sexual behaviors. Authoritarian or overcontrolling parenting can impair decision-making, increasing vulnerability to risky behaviors. Similarly, rigid parenting often leads to behavioral issues and difficulties in building healthy relationships. This study examines how various aspects of family functioning—such as communication, cohesion, flexibility, chaos, enmeshment, and rigidity—relate to sexting behaviors (e.g., sending, receiving, posting sexts, not-allowed sexting, and risky sexting). The sample includes 278 participants (Mean Age = 22.49; 181 females, 97 males) who have answered self-report questionnaires on family functioning (FACES) and sexting behaviors (SBQ). Preliminary regression analyses indicate that specific dimensions of family functioning, particularly negative ones such as chaos and rigidity, are significant predictors of engaging in risky or aggravated forms of sexting. Chaos was associated with an increased likelihood of sexting under the influence of substances, β = 0.21, p = 0.009, not allowed sexting, β = 0.24, p = 0.002, and sexting under pressure, β = 0.22, p = 0.007. Similarly, rigidity was positively associated with sexting under the influence of substances, β = 0.20, p = 0.002, not-allowed sexting, β = 0.16, p = 0.008, and sexting under pressure, β = 0.14, p = 0.026. In contrast, positive aspects of family functioning, such as cohesion, appear to reduce the likelihood of engaging in problematic sexting behaviors. Specifically, cohesion was negatively associated with posting sexts on social media, β = -0.30, p = 0.010, and not-allowed sexting, β = -0.34, p = 0.004. The findings could provide essential insights for developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies to reduce risky sexual behaviors. Addressing these issues through education, counseling, and prevention programs is vital to minimizing their wider public health impact.