Sexting Alert: New Study Says 30 Percent of Teens Send Nude Pics to Each Other [POLL]

Oh, and They're Sending Sexually Explicit Messages, Too

Here's a little info to scare the bejesus out of you for the rest of the holiday week: a new study conducted at Texas high schools has left researchers concluding that 30 percent of teens send sexually explicit photos and messages to each other.

The study, conducted at seven Texas high schools, also concluded, unsurprisingly, that "sexting" -- which includes sending nude photos and explicit messages via electronic methods -- may be linked to teens' actual sexual behaviors.

Read: Sex Talk with Teens Happens Too Late

For the study, reported by ScienceDaily.com, teens from 14 to 19-years-old reported their histories of dating, sexting and sexual behavior.

The questions they were asked: 1) had they ever sent nude photos of themselves to someone via text or email; 2) have they ever asked someone to send a naked photo to them; 3) have they been asked to send a naked photo of themselves to someone; and 4) if they had been asked, how much did the request bother them.

And the results were disturbing:

-- More than one in four have sent a naked photo of themselves;

-- About half have been asked to send such a pic;

-- And about a third have asked someone else to send them a nude photo.

Boys are more likely to ask for the naked pics, the study concludes, and girls are more likely to have been asked.

Read: Teens Who Watch Internet Porn More Likely To Engage In Risky Sex

Most disturbingly, the report concludes that teens -- both boys and girls -- who have sexted are more likely to have begun dating and having sex than those who have not sexted.

The authors of the study suggest the info they gleaned can be useful for tween- and teen-focused health providers in screening for risky sexual behaviors.

For parents, of course, it's yet another piece of info that can lead to sleepless nights.

Speaking of that, tell us: