title: The Uses of Texting in Sexual Relationships Scale: Associations With Risky Sexual Behavior Among At-Risk African American Emerging Adults.
abstract: Qualitative and quantitative research was used to create the Uses of Texting in Sexual Relationships scale. At-risk, predominantly African American emerging adults participated in qualitative interviews (N = 20) and quantitative surveys (N = 110) about their uses of text messaging within romantic and sexual relationships. Exploratory factor analysis of items generated from interviews resulted in four subscales: Sexting, Relationship Maintenance, Relationship Development, and Texting for Sexual Safety. Exploratory analyses indicated associations of Sexting with more instances of condomless sex, and Texting for Sexual Safety with fewer instances of condomless sex, which was moderated by relationship power. Further research on the connections between text messaging in relationships and sexual behavior among high-risk and minority young adults is warranted, and intervention efforts to decrease sexual risks need to incorporate these avenues of sexual communication.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broaddus
authors.affiliation: Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dickson-Gomez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003142:Communication; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012306:Risk; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult