Study: Sexting Linked to Early Sexual Activity in Young Children - East Idaho News
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Study: Sexting Linked to Early Sexual Activity in Young Children

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Thinkstock 070114 GirlsWithCellPhones?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1404269933774Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Parents of children as young as 10 may need to be concerned about their kids texting habits, after a new study found that students in the Los Angeles School District (LASD) — even those years away from being teenagers — may be getting into “sexting.”

According to the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers surveyed nearly 1,300 students in the LASD and found that not only were younger students involved in sexting, but that those who were were also significantly more likely to be sexually active than those not engaged in sexting.

Early sexual behavior has previously been linked to higher risk of sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and other health risks.

While many parents are giving their children cellphones to help maintain contact in case of an emergency, researchers say all parents should be sure to talk to their children about the right way to use the devices. Researchers also say that pediatricians should counsel teens on early sexual activity during office visits, and schools should consider the inclusion of the risks of sexting in their curricula.


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