It's Time To Add 'Adolescent Sexting Depression' To The DSM
LatestMore bad news on the kids-today front: kids who are sexting are more likely to be depressed. The only (sort of) silver lining is that kids in general may be recognizing that sending nude pics to each other is a bad idea.
ABC reports on a study of teens from the Boston suburbs, which found that teens who had sexted were twice as likely to report depressive symptoms, and also more likely to have attempted suicide, than those who had not. It’s not clear whether sexting leads to psychiatric problems or vice versa, but many experts note that the practice can give rise to social stigma. Dr. Jill Murray explains to ABC, “When it gets forwarded to multiple boys at multiple schools and also other girls … a girl starts getting called names and her reputation is ruined.” She adds, “I don’t know any 16 year old boy who’s going to keep a naked picture of a girl to himself.” But it’s not just boys being dicks. Says Murray,