For sex, ulterior motives or relief: a latent profile analysis of individuals who sext their relationship partner(s)

Sexting has emerged as a prevalent avenue for individuals to express their sexuality and desires. To explore the diverse motivations to engage in sexting a comprehensive review of existing literature and analysis of survey data from 109 individuals from the United States (collected online 2019, mean age of 29.0 years, 56% identified as female) we employ Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify distinct profiles of sexting motivations. Three primary profiles emerge: those who sext primarily for sexual purposes, individuals who sext to alleviate relational anxiety and those engaging in sexting for ulterior motives such as body image reinforcement or instrumental/aggressive reasons. Notably, each profile exhibits unique patterns of attachment styles and motivations for engaging in sexting behaviours. While the largest number of participants sext to initiate sexual encounters with their partner(s) (n = 44, 40.4%), a significant subset sexts as a coping mechanism for relational insecurities (n = 34, 31.2%) or with manipulative intentions (n = 31, 28.4%). These findings underscore the complexity of sexting behaviours and highlight the need for tailored interventions and awareness campaigns to promote healthy sexual communication and relationship dynamics. Understanding these diverse motivations is crucial for clinicians, educators and policymakers aiming to address the multifaceted implications of sexting in contemporary society.