Youth Depression and Online Sexual Solicitation
Author Information
Author(s): Michele L Ybarra, Philip J Leaf, Marie Diener-West, Ilene Berson
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hypothesis
Is there an association between youth-reported depressive symptoms and unwanted Internet sexual solicitation, and do sex differences exist in this relationship?
Conclusion
Youths with major depressive symptoms are significantly more likely to report unwanted sexual solicitation online, especially among males.
Supporting Evidence
- Youths with major depressive symptoms were 3.5 times more likely to report unwanted sexual solicitation.
- Males with major depressive symptoms were 2.5 times more likely to report unwanted solicitation after adjusting for other factors.
- Among youths reporting solicitation, those with major depressive symptoms were twice as likely to feel emotionally distressed.
Takeaway
Some kids who feel sad or depressed are more likely to get unwanted messages online asking them to do sexual things, especially boys.
Methodology
Data from a nationally-representative telephone survey of youth aged 10-17 was analyzed using logistic regression.
Potential Biases
Potential underreporting of sexual solicitation experiences and the exclusion of non-English speaking youths may limit generalizability.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and a validated scale for major depressive disorder was not used.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 10-17, 52% male, predominantly white (75%), with a significant portion from higher-income households.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 2.19-5.71
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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