Sexual consent is one of the most important tools used in the prevention of sexual violence, for which adolescents are especially vulnerable. However, it is unclear how sexual consent processes are defined and used by this population. To bridge this gap in knowledge, this scoping review sought to identify and synthesize the existing empirical research findings on sexual consent conceptualizations and processes among adolescents, as well as determine critical gaps in knowledge. Forty-three articles were reviewed following a systematic search of six academic databases. Articles were included if they were original empirical work published in English between January 1990 and March 2020, included adolescents aged 10 to 17 in their sample, and specifically studied sexual consent conceptualization, communication, and/or behavior. Seventeen articles, diverse in study design and geography, met these criteria and were analyzed. The findings suggest a propensity for adolescents to abstractly define sexual consent as verbal and direct in nature while simultaneously espousing indirect and non-verbal behavioral processes when presented with “real life” scenarios (e.g., vignettes, reflections on personal experience). In addition, the results reveal the significance of concepts like gender norms, normative refusals, and silence as key aspects of adolescent sexual consent. This review demonstrates that research on sexual consent among adolescents is highly limited overall, and the findings that are available indicate some concerning perceptions.

Background: Sexual consent remains one of the most important tools in the prevention of sexual violence, for which adolescents are an especially vulnerable group. However, it is unclear how sexual consent processes are defined and used by this population. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we present a protocol for a forthcoming scoping review that will identify and synthesize the available empirical research findings on sexual consent conceptualizations and processes among adolescents. Methods/Design: Using the framework by Arksey and O’Malley (2005), a systematic search of six academic databases (Education Source, ERIC, Gender Studies Database, PsycINFO, Social Services Abstracts, and Sociological Abstracts) will be conducted; this range has been selected due to the multi-disciplinary nature of sexual consent research. Following two levels of screening, data from the full-text articles will be charted and subjected to qualitative thematic analysis. Discussion: These collated results will provide a map of key concepts and establish gaps in the extant literature in order to guide future research on this topic. The findings will advance our knowledge of sexual consent as it is understood by the adolescent population; they may also inform the content and delivery of sexual education programs to ensure that they are relevant to their target audience and assist in the prevention of sexual violence.

Sexting has become a common aspect of sexual exploration and communication among adolescents and young adults. Despite significant media and research attention, the link between sexting behaviours and mental health symptoms and behaviours remains inconclusive. Furthermore, there has been limited investigation of sexting in the Canadian setting. This study aims to determine the occurrence of sexting, its sociodemographic predictors, and its association with mental health symptoms and behaviours. Data were obtained from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviours ( N = 912), a national study of Canadian adolescents and young adults aged 16–30 years ( M = 23.4, SD = 3.8). Multiple modified Poisson regression analyses and linear regression analyses were conducted. Results indicate that cisgender men and sexual minority participants (queer, gay or lesbian, and bisexual) are more likely to engage in a range of sexting behaviours. In terms of mental health correlates, sexting was significantly associated with reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and non-suicidal self-injury. These results show that while normative and even potentially beneficial, sexting may also be associated with symptoms of mental illness. Knowledge regarding sociodemographic characteristics and mental health correlates can inform screening, assessment, and prevention efforts.