Adolescents' experience with sex on the web: Results from online focus groups

Kenzie A. Cameron, Laura F. Salazar, Jay M. Bernhardt, Nan Burgess-Whitman, Gina M. Wingood, Ralph J. DiClemente

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

To discover adolescent Internet users' experiences with, exposure to, and perceptions of sexually oriented websites (SOW) and sexually explicit websites (SEW), four web-based focus groups (N = 40) were conducted. Participants (ages 14-17) reported high levels of exposure to SEW and SOW, which was intentional for some and unsolicited for others. Female adolescents found SEW to be socially distasteful; some adolescent males avoided SEW while others were willing consumers. Participants believed exposure to SEW had no influence on them, and reported that their parents were unaware of what they view online. Future research should explore the effects of exposure to SEW and to SOW and mediating factors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)535-540
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Adolescence
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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