Competencias socioemocionales desde el modelo de Covitalidad y su relación con el uso de contenido sexual en adolescentes de instituciones públicas de Cuenca

Abstract

In today’s digital landscape, the use of information and communication technology has become an essential component of adolescent development, offering meaningful opportunities for socialization and learning. However, it also exposes youth to risks such as access to sexual content. In this context, it is crucial to examine the socio-emotional competencies involved in managing these risks. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between socio-emotional competencies based on the Covitality model and the use of sexual content among adolescents in Cuenca, Ecuador. Employing a quantitative approach with a non-experimental, correlational design with a sample of 717 students aged 12 to 17 years (M = 15; SD = 2) from public secondary schools in Cuenca. The study employed the EU Kids Online survey (Garmendia et al., 2019), applied in 19 European and 4 Latin American countries, and the Social Emotional Health Survey–Secondary (Furlong et al., 2020). Results showed that overall Covitality was negatively associated with both the reception (rs = –.375) and the general use (rs = –.350) of sexual content, but not with executing this practice. Additionally, the competencies of Belief in Self and Engaged Living exhibited significant correlations. In conclusion, socio-emotional competencies can act as protective factors against the consumption of sexual content among adolescents, underscoring the importance of promoting Covitality as a resource for safer and more adaptive digital use.