72. Female adolescents who identify as bisexual or other sexuality categories engage in more sexting compared to both heterosexual and lesbian female peers

Background Adolescents who identify as sexual minorities are more likely to exchange in sexually explicit text messages and images (sexting) and more likely to receive unwanted explicit messages. We investigate whether female adolescents identifying as lesbian differ from those who identify as bisexual or other sexual minority categories, and how both groups compare to those identifying as heterosexual. Methods We used baseline data from N=864 female adolescents in groups of 4-14 across six states in a group randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention. Participants reported their sexuality as heterosexual (73%), lesbian (4%), or bisexual or other (20%). They reported past sexual behavior (vaginal, oral and anal sex), having sent or received explicit sexual messages, and demographics, including age (14-19) and racial and ethnic background (African American non-Hispanic 57.7%, Hispanic 17.6%, and Other non-Hispanic 24.7%). Four multilevel logistic analyses (youth within group) tested whether self-identification as (1) heterosexual, (2) lesbian or (3) other sexual minority was related to participants having sent or received sext messages, received unwanted sexually explicit digital pictures, and felt scared or uncomfortable when contacted online by an unknown person. All models controlled for previous sexual experience, age, and race/ethnicity. Results Sexual orientation was related to sexting behaviors, with adolescents identifying as bisexual or "other" significantly more likely to report all four outcomes compared to both their lesbian and heterosexual peers. They were more likely to have sent sexually explicit messages than either lesbian (OR=4.37, P Conclusions Previous studies found greater rates of sexting among sexual minorities. Here we report that those who identify as bisexual or "other" (such as pansexual) appear to be driving the effect. This was true both for voluntary behaviors, such as sending messages, and for unwanted messages.