Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate sexting behaviours among youths
in Baptist churches of the Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC) in the Cape Coast
Metropolis. The study adopted a quantitative approach with a descriptive
survey design. The population under consideration comprised all youth in
Baptist Churches of the GBC within the Cape Coast Metropolis. Random and
purposive sampling techniques were used to draw a total of 244 youths from
the four Baptist churches of GBC within the Cape Coast Metropolis. A
questionnaire titled Texting Motivation Qestionnaire (SMQ) was used in
collecting the data for the study. Data were analysed using frequency and
percentage, independent samples t-test and One-Way ANOVA. The study
found that most of the respondents had received and forwarded sexually
explicit messages. The major reasons given by the respondents for engaging in
sexting practices included for fun, to flirt and to be accepted by friends. The
study found a significant difference in sexting behaviours of the youth on the
basis of gender, educational qualification and age. Also, it was found that the
measures that could help regulate sexting behaviours among youth in Baptist
Churches of GBC in the Cape Coast Metropolis included church programmes,
parental intervention and organising preventive counselling programmes. On
the basis of the findings, it was recommended that the youth in the Baptist
Churches in the Cape Coast Metropolis should be educated by the leaders of
Baptist Churches on the consequences of sexting and be encouraged to desist
from such acts.
