Exploring the dark triad and sexting practices in Portuguese young adults

Abstract In order to maintain intimate relationships and explore their own sexuality, young adults commonly use Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Online Sexual Activities (OSA). OSA activities like sexting have increased significantly with the widespread adoption of ICT, exposing young people to heightened risks of online violence. This study aims to validate and examine the psychometric properties of the Sexting Scale for the Portuguese population, describe the prevalence of sexting among young adults in Portugal, and investigate possible correlations with personality traits. The sample included 329 participants (Mage = 20.83; SD = 1.992). The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) demonstrated very acceptable values, supporting a three-factor model of sexting: erotic, pornographic, and romantic. Among the participants, 94.8% of women and 85.5% of men reported engaging in at least one act of sexting. Sexting experience showed a strong and positive association with higher levels of machiavellianism and narcissism. However, no significant association was found between sexting and high levels of psychopathy. These findings underscore the importance of addressing non-consensual sexting as a critical health and social issue, emphasizing the need for interventions aimed at preventing and managing this form of abuse.