ABSTRACT

Research into sexting has yield inconsistent result in terms of sexting prevalence and correlates such as sexual risk behaviours and psychological wellbeing. The present study examined the relationships between sexting, sexual risk behaviours and psychological wellbeing among college students in Ghana. This cross-sectional survey recruited 380 undergraduate students in the Greater Accra Region using a convenient sampling technique. The study revealed that sexting behaviours is positively associated with sexual risk behaviours and negatively related to psychological wellbeing. Self-control partially mediated the relationship between sexting behaviours and psychological wellbeing. Peer pressure fully mediated the relationship between sexting behaviours and sexual risk behaviours. Male college students were found to send and receive more sext than female college students. Also, college students in dating relationship were engaged in significantly more sexting behaviours than those who were single. Severe sexters significantly engaged in sexual risk behaviours than mild, moderate and non-sexters. Male college sexters were significantly pressured by their peers to sext more than female college students. These findings are discussed in the light of existing literature. The study concludes that a multidisciplinary and holistic approach is needed to eradicate or reduce the incidence of sexting in contemporary Ghanaian society especially among the youth.