Abstract
The present study examined whether traditional intimate partner violence literature utilizing attachment theory and attitudes toward relationship violence was applicable to emerging electronic manifestations of abuse, namely coerced sexting. Drawing on extant research indicating that insecure attachment and positive attitudes toward intimate partner violence are risk factors for becoming involved in relationship abuse, the primary objective of this study was to determine whether such findings remain pertinent in light of the potential for exploitation through coerced sexting. A total of 238 participants (many of whom were male or female college students at a southern California university) completed an online survey, which began with reading a randomly-selected vignette about coerced sexting (either text or picture) and was followed by questions about their perceptions of the coerced sexting vignette. Participants then completed additional scales designed to evaluate attachment characteristics and attitudes toward intimate partner violence, as well as a demographics questionnaire. Results indicated that high attachment avoidance was related to viewing coerced picture sexting as not abusive. In addition, participants with positive attitudes toward intimate partner violence were less likely to view coerced sexting as abusive. The findings in the present study suggest that coerced sexting may indeed be an extension of intimate partner violence, given recent trends of increased communication and relationship maintenance through digital media. Implications for future research and intimate partner violence prevention efforts are discussed.