Sexting Behaviours Among Youth in Baptist Churches of The Ghana Baptist Convention in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

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.