title: Safe sext: adolescents' use of technology to communicate about sexual health with dating partners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined adolescents' technology-based sexual communication with dating partners, and evaluated associations between technology-based communication and condom use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 176 high school students who indicated their use of technology to communicate with partners about condoms, birth control, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, and sexual limits. Sexually active youth also reported their frequency of condom use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many adolescents (49%) used technology to discuss sexual health with partners, with rates varying by topic. Girls were more likely than boys to discuss HIV, pregnancy, and sexual limits. Ethnic minorities were more likely than whites to discuss condoms, STIs, HIV, pregnancy, and birth control. Importantly, rates of consistent condom use were three times higher among youth using technology to discuss condoms and birth control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results provide novel preliminary evidence regarding adolescents' use of technology to discuss sexual health and demonstrate links between technology-based communication and condom use among sexually active youth.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Electronic address: lwidman@email.unc.edu.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Widman
authors: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Nesi
authors: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors: Sophia
authors: S
authors: Choukas-Bradley
authors: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Electronic address: mitch.prinstein@unc.edu.
authors: Mitchell J
authors: MJ
authors: Prinstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060145:Text Messaging; D014481:United States
keywords: Adolescent sexual communication; Condom use; E-health; Technology