Research Article
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Influence of Personality Traits on the Sexting Behaviour of University Undergraduate Students in Southwestern Nigeria

Year 2025, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 14 - 23, 17.03.2025
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15036377

Abstract

The study determined the level of sexting behavior among university undergraduate students in Southwestern Nigeria. It further established the influence of personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) on the sexting behavior of the students. Sexting, which is a morality issue, may have negative effects on university students academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The sample for this study consisted of 1200 university undergraduate students selected using a multistage sampling technique. The instrument used to elicit information from the respondents was the Sexting Behavior and Personality Traits Questionnaire (SBPTQ). The results showed that 66%,24.6%, and 9.4% of university undergraduate students demonstrated low, moderate, and high levels of sexting behavior, respectively. In addition to this finding, it was determined that there is no significant relationship between sexting behaviors and the personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness. However, a positive and significant relationship was found between neuroticism and sexting behaviors. The findings were discussed in the light of existing literature.

References

  • Akinwale, A. (2019). Psychological correlates of sexting behavior among university undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria, Ife Journal of Educational Studies, 1, 2. https://www.academia.edu/106866357
  • Asogwa, C. E., & Ojih, E. U. (2013). Social networking sites as tools for sexual perversion among students of university of Nigeria,Nsukka. New Media and Mass Communication 9, 27-38.
  • Barlett, R. J. E., Kotrlik, J. W., & Haggins, C. C. (2001). Organisational research. determining approximate sample size in survey research. Information Technology, Learning and Performance Journal, 19(1), 43-50.
  • Barrense-Dias, Y., Berchtold, A., Surís, J. C., &Akre, C. (2017). Sexting and the definition issue. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(5), 544-554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.009
  • Bianchi, A. & Phillips, J. G. (2005). Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use. Cyberpsychology & Behaviour, 8(1), 39-51. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2005.8.39
  • Bianchi, D., Morelli, M., Baiocco, R., & Chirumbolo, A. (2016). Psychometric properties of the sexting motivations questionnaire for adolescents and young adults. Rassegna Di Psicologia, 35(3), 5-18. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316156257
  • Burch, G. S. J., & Anderson, N. (2004). Measuring person fit: Development and validation of the team selection inventory. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 19, 406-426. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940410537954
  • Butt S., & Phillips, E. (2008). Personality and self-reported mobile phone use. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(2), 346-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2007.01.019
  • Cachia, R. (2008). Social computing: Study on the use and impact of online social networking. European Commission.
  • Clarke, S., & Robertsen, I. T. (2005). A meta-analytic review of the big five personality factors and accident involvement in occupational and non-occupational settings. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 78(3), 355-376. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317905X26183
  • Dake, J. A., Price, J. H., Maziarz, L., & Ward, B. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of sexting behaviour in adolescents. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 7(1), 1‐15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2012.650959
  • Delevi, R., & Weisskirch, R. S. (2013). Personality factors as predictors of sexting. Computers in Human Behaviour, 29(6), 2589-2594. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.06.003
  • Doyle, C., Douglas, E., & O’Reilly, G. (2021). The outcomes of sexting for children and adolescents: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Adolescence, 92(1), 86-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.08.009
  • Drouin, M., & Landgraff, C. (2012). Texting, sexting and attachment in college students’ romantic relationships. Computers in Human Behaviour, 28(2), 444-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2011.10.015
  • Drouin, M., Vogel, K. N., Surbey, A., & Stills, J. R. (2013). Let’s talk about sexting, baby: Computer-mediated sexual behaviours among young adults. Computers in Human Behaviour, 29(5), A25-A30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.12.030
  • Ehrenberg, A., Juckes, S, White, M., & Walsh, P. (2008). Personality and self-esteem as predictors of young people’s technology use. Cyber psychology & Behaviour, 11(6), 739-741. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0030
  • Ekundayo, O. O. (2014). Psychosocial determinants of sexual behaviour among university undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria [Doctoral dissertation]. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
  • Hamat, A., Embi, M., & Hassan, H. (2012). The use of social networking sites among Malaysian university students. International Education Studies, 56, 1913-9020. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v5n3p56
  • Englander, E. K., & McCoy, M. (2017). Pressuredsexting and revenge porn in a sample of Massachusetts adolescents. International Journal of Technoethics, 8(2), 16-25. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJT.2017070102
  • Ferguson, C. J. (2011). Sexting behaviours among young Hispanic women: Incidence and association with other high-risk sexual behaviours. Psychiatric Quarterly, 82(3), 239-243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-010-9165-8
  • Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th ed.). Sage Publications Ltd.
  • Gordon-Messer D, Bauermeister J. A., & Grodzinski A, (2012). Sexting among young adults. Adolescent Health; 52, 301-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.05.013
  • Görzig, A., & Livingstone, S. (2014). Adolescents’ experience of offline and online risks: Separate and joint propensities [Oral presentation]. Annual Meeting of the Developmental Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society, Amsterdam. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265380243
  • Huntley R. (2006). The world according to Y. Inside the new adult generation. Allen & Unwin.
  • Jenaro, C., Flores, N., & Arias, B. (2007). Burnout and coping in human service practitioners. Professional psychology: Research and Practice, 38(1), 80-87. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.38.1.80
  • Katherine, H. (2006). A theoretical framework for defining, understanding and treating internet infidelity. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 4(1), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.1300/J398v04n01_04
  • Kerstens, J., & Stol, W. (2014). Receiving online sexual requests and producing online sexual images: The multifaceted and dialogic nature of adolescents’ online sexual interactions. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2014-1-8
  • Lebowitz, S. (2016). The ‘Big 5’ personality traits could predict who will and won’t become a leader. Business Insider.
  • Lenhart, A. (2009). Teens and sexting: How and why minor teens are sending sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images via text messaging. http://hdl.handle.net/11212/2060. Pew Internet & American Life Project
  • Lenhart, A., Ling, R., Campbell, S., & Purcell, K. (2010). Teens and mobile phones. Pew Research Centers. http://pewrsr.ch/1m8kC6T
  • Leung, L. (2008). Linking psychological attributes to addiction and improper use of mobile phone among adolescents in Hongkong. Journal of Children and Media, 2, 93-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482790802078565
  • McKenna, K., Green, A. S., & Gleason, M. E. (2002). Relationship formation on the internet: What is the big attraction? Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 9-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-4560.00246
  • Mitchell, K. J.,Finkelhor, D., Jones, L. M., & Wolak, J. (2012). Prevalence and characteristics of youth sexting: Anational study. Pediatrics, 129(1), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-1730
  • Okoli, E. (2015). Sexting and anambra state university students' sexual behaviour [B.Sc. project]. Anambra State University, Nigeria.
  • Olatunde, O., & Balogun, F. (2017). Sexting: Prevalence, predictors and associated sexual risks behaviours among postsecondary school young people in Ibadan, Nigeria. Frontiers in Public Health, 5. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00096
  • Ostrager, B. (2010). SMS. OMG! LOL! TTYL: Translating the law to accommodate today's teens and the evolution from texting to sexting. FamCourt Rev, 48(4), 712-726. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1617.2010.01345.x
  • Rammstedt, B. (2007). The 10-item big five inventory. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 23(3), 193-201. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.23.3.193
  • Reid, L., & Reid, F. (2010). Cognitive complexity and the perception of subtle racism. Basic and Applied Social psychology, 32(4), 291-301. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2010.519217
  • Robbins, S. P., Judge, T. A., & Sanghi, S. (2009). Organizational behaviour. Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Strassberg, D. S., McKinnon, R. K., Sustaita, M. A., & Rullo J. (2013). Sexting by high school school students: An exploratory and descriptive study. Arch Sex Behav., 42(1), 44-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9969-8
  • Takao, M., Takahashi, S., & Kitamura, M. (2009). Addictive personality and problematic mobile phone use. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 12(5), 501-507. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2009.0022
  • VandenAbeele, M., Roe, K., & Eggermont, S. (2012). An exploration of adolescents’ sexual contact and conduct risks through mobile phone use. Communications, 37(1), 55-77. https://doi.org/10.1515/commun-2012-0003
  • Weisskirch, R. S., & Delevi, R. (2011)."Sexting" and adult romantic attachment. Compiit Human Behaviour, 27(5), 1697-1701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2011.02.008
  • Wysocki, D. K., & Childers, C. D. (2011). Let my fingers do the talking: Sexting and infidelity in cyberspace. Sexuality and Culture, 15(3), 217-239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-011-9091-4

Güneybatı Nijerya'daki Üniversite Lisans Öğrencilerinin Sexting Davranışı Üzerinde Kişilik Özelliklerinin Etkisi

Year 2025, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 14 - 23, 17.03.2025
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15036377

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Güneybatı Nijerya'daki üniversite lisans öğrencileri arasında sexting davranışının yaygınlığını ve bu davranış üzerinde kişilik özelliklerinin (açıklık, sorumluluk, dışadönüklük, uyumluluk ve nevrotiklik) etkisini incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Sexting, ahlaki bir sorun olarak kabul edilmekte ve üniversite öğrencilerinin akademik, sosyal, duygusal ve ruhsal sağlıkları üzerinde olumsuz etkilere yol açabilmektedir. Çalışma, betimsel araştırma desenini benimsemiş olup, örneklem seçiminde çok aşamalı örnekleme tekniği kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemi, 1200 üniversite lisans öğrencisinden oluşmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak Sexting Davranışı ve Kişilik Özellikleri Anketi (SBPTQ) kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları, katılımcıların %66'sının düşük, %24.6'sının orta ve %9.4'ünün yüksek düzeyde sexting davranışı sergilediğini ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, kişilik özelliklerinden açıklık, sorumluluk, dışadönüklük ve uyumluluk ile sexting davranışları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmazken, nevrotiklik özelliği ile sexting davranışları arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı bir ilişki tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, ilgili literatür çerçevesinde tartışılmış ve sexting davranışının üniversite öğrencileri üzerindeki etkileri değerlendirilmiştir.

References

  • Akinwale, A. (2019). Psychological correlates of sexting behavior among university undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria, Ife Journal of Educational Studies, 1, 2. https://www.academia.edu/106866357
  • Asogwa, C. E., & Ojih, E. U. (2013). Social networking sites as tools for sexual perversion among students of university of Nigeria,Nsukka. New Media and Mass Communication 9, 27-38.
  • Barlett, R. J. E., Kotrlik, J. W., & Haggins, C. C. (2001). Organisational research. determining approximate sample size in survey research. Information Technology, Learning and Performance Journal, 19(1), 43-50.
  • Barrense-Dias, Y., Berchtold, A., Surís, J. C., &Akre, C. (2017). Sexting and the definition issue. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(5), 544-554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.009
  • Bianchi, A. & Phillips, J. G. (2005). Psychological predictors of problem mobile phone use. Cyberpsychology & Behaviour, 8(1), 39-51. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2005.8.39
  • Bianchi, D., Morelli, M., Baiocco, R., & Chirumbolo, A. (2016). Psychometric properties of the sexting motivations questionnaire for adolescents and young adults. Rassegna Di Psicologia, 35(3), 5-18. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316156257
  • Burch, G. S. J., & Anderson, N. (2004). Measuring person fit: Development and validation of the team selection inventory. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 19, 406-426. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940410537954
  • Butt S., & Phillips, E. (2008). Personality and self-reported mobile phone use. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(2), 346-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2007.01.019
  • Cachia, R. (2008). Social computing: Study on the use and impact of online social networking. European Commission.
  • Clarke, S., & Robertsen, I. T. (2005). A meta-analytic review of the big five personality factors and accident involvement in occupational and non-occupational settings. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 78(3), 355-376. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317905X26183
  • Dake, J. A., Price, J. H., Maziarz, L., & Ward, B. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of sexting behaviour in adolescents. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 7(1), 1‐15. https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2012.650959
  • Delevi, R., & Weisskirch, R. S. (2013). Personality factors as predictors of sexting. Computers in Human Behaviour, 29(6), 2589-2594. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.06.003
  • Doyle, C., Douglas, E., & O’Reilly, G. (2021). The outcomes of sexting for children and adolescents: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Adolescence, 92(1), 86-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.08.009
  • Drouin, M., & Landgraff, C. (2012). Texting, sexting and attachment in college students’ romantic relationships. Computers in Human Behaviour, 28(2), 444-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2011.10.015
  • Drouin, M., Vogel, K. N., Surbey, A., & Stills, J. R. (2013). Let’s talk about sexting, baby: Computer-mediated sexual behaviours among young adults. Computers in Human Behaviour, 29(5), A25-A30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.12.030
  • Ehrenberg, A., Juckes, S, White, M., & Walsh, P. (2008). Personality and self-esteem as predictors of young people’s technology use. Cyber psychology & Behaviour, 11(6), 739-741. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0030
  • Ekundayo, O. O. (2014). Psychosocial determinants of sexual behaviour among university undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria [Doctoral dissertation]. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
  • Hamat, A., Embi, M., & Hassan, H. (2012). The use of social networking sites among Malaysian university students. International Education Studies, 56, 1913-9020. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v5n3p56
  • Englander, E. K., & McCoy, M. (2017). Pressuredsexting and revenge porn in a sample of Massachusetts adolescents. International Journal of Technoethics, 8(2), 16-25. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJT.2017070102
  • Ferguson, C. J. (2011). Sexting behaviours among young Hispanic women: Incidence and association with other high-risk sexual behaviours. Psychiatric Quarterly, 82(3), 239-243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-010-9165-8
  • Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th ed.). Sage Publications Ltd.
  • Gordon-Messer D, Bauermeister J. A., & Grodzinski A, (2012). Sexting among young adults. Adolescent Health; 52, 301-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.05.013
  • Görzig, A., & Livingstone, S. (2014). Adolescents’ experience of offline and online risks: Separate and joint propensities [Oral presentation]. Annual Meeting of the Developmental Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society, Amsterdam. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265380243
  • Huntley R. (2006). The world according to Y. Inside the new adult generation. Allen & Unwin.
  • Jenaro, C., Flores, N., & Arias, B. (2007). Burnout and coping in human service practitioners. Professional psychology: Research and Practice, 38(1), 80-87. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.38.1.80
  • Katherine, H. (2006). A theoretical framework for defining, understanding and treating internet infidelity. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 4(1), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.1300/J398v04n01_04
  • Kerstens, J., & Stol, W. (2014). Receiving online sexual requests and producing online sexual images: The multifaceted and dialogic nature of adolescents’ online sexual interactions. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2014-1-8
  • Lebowitz, S. (2016). The ‘Big 5’ personality traits could predict who will and won’t become a leader. Business Insider.
  • Lenhart, A. (2009). Teens and sexting: How and why minor teens are sending sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images via text messaging. http://hdl.handle.net/11212/2060. Pew Internet & American Life Project
  • Lenhart, A., Ling, R., Campbell, S., & Purcell, K. (2010). Teens and mobile phones. Pew Research Centers. http://pewrsr.ch/1m8kC6T
  • Leung, L. (2008). Linking psychological attributes to addiction and improper use of mobile phone among adolescents in Hongkong. Journal of Children and Media, 2, 93-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482790802078565
  • McKenna, K., Green, A. S., & Gleason, M. E. (2002). Relationship formation on the internet: What is the big attraction? Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 9-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-4560.00246
  • Mitchell, K. J.,Finkelhor, D., Jones, L. M., & Wolak, J. (2012). Prevalence and characteristics of youth sexting: Anational study. Pediatrics, 129(1), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-1730
  • Okoli, E. (2015). Sexting and anambra state university students' sexual behaviour [B.Sc. project]. Anambra State University, Nigeria.
  • Olatunde, O., & Balogun, F. (2017). Sexting: Prevalence, predictors and associated sexual risks behaviours among postsecondary school young people in Ibadan, Nigeria. Frontiers in Public Health, 5. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00096
  • Ostrager, B. (2010). SMS. OMG! LOL! TTYL: Translating the law to accommodate today's teens and the evolution from texting to sexting. FamCourt Rev, 48(4), 712-726. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1617.2010.01345.x
  • Rammstedt, B. (2007). The 10-item big five inventory. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 23(3), 193-201. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.23.3.193
  • Reid, L., & Reid, F. (2010). Cognitive complexity and the perception of subtle racism. Basic and Applied Social psychology, 32(4), 291-301. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2010.519217
  • Robbins, S. P., Judge, T. A., & Sanghi, S. (2009). Organizational behaviour. Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Strassberg, D. S., McKinnon, R. K., Sustaita, M. A., & Rullo J. (2013). Sexting by high school school students: An exploratory and descriptive study. Arch Sex Behav., 42(1), 44-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9969-8
  • Takao, M., Takahashi, S., & Kitamura, M. (2009). Addictive personality and problematic mobile phone use. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 12(5), 501-507. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2009.0022
  • VandenAbeele, M., Roe, K., & Eggermont, S. (2012). An exploration of adolescents’ sexual contact and conduct risks through mobile phone use. Communications, 37(1), 55-77. https://doi.org/10.1515/commun-2012-0003
  • Weisskirch, R. S., & Delevi, R. (2011)."Sexting" and adult romantic attachment. Compiit Human Behaviour, 27(5), 1697-1701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2011.02.008
  • Wysocki, D. K., & Childers, C. D. (2011). Let my fingers do the talking: Sexting and infidelity in cyberspace. Sexuality and Culture, 15(3), 217-239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-011-9091-4
There are 44 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Educational Psychology, Applied and Developmental Psychology (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Blessing Oreoluwa Adeosun

Early Pub Date March 17, 2025
Publication Date March 17, 2025
Submission Date August 6, 2024
Acceptance Date January 29, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 3 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Adeosun, B. O. (2025). Influence of Personality Traits on the Sexting Behaviour of University Undergraduate Students in Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Psychometric Research, 3(1), 14-23. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15036377

Journal of Psychometric Research is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (CC BY-NC 4.0). 

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