Mental health on victims of non-consensual intimate image-sharing: a scoping review

Introduction: Non-consensual intimate image-sharing (NCII) is a type of victimization that has emerged as a pervasive issue affecting millions globally. Studies reveal alarming statistics, with several individuals experiencing or being at risk of NCII victimization. NCII predominantly targets women, and the psychological consequences on victims can be severe, leading to emotional distress, social ostracization, and challenges in intimate relationships, decreasing the quality of life. This scoping review encompasses all studies published up to December 2025 and aims to synthesize knowledge about the impact of NCII on mental health.
Methods: The B-On, Web of Sciences, PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Scielo databases were systematically searched and selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: The scoping review encompasses 21 studies, totaling 32,252 individuals, that examine various aspects of NCII. Methodologies include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Participants ranged in age from 11 to 97 years old across various countries. NCII victimization primarily involves sharing sexual content without consent, and this type of victimization is related to mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues. Victims often expe rience paranoia, self-blame, and suicidal thoughts, affecting their academic and professional lives. Coping strategies from victims ranged from negative behaviors to seeking support from counselors and peers.
Conclusions: NCII is related to adverse issues, although some of them may have adapted coping strategies over time.
Policy Implications: The NCII’s consequences highlight the urgent need to develop policies that enable the development of comprehensive support systems and legal protections for victims.
Open access funding provided by FCT|FCCN (b-on). This work was supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P. by project reference UID/4585/2025 and DOI identifier https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/04585/2025. This research was also partially conducted at CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, supported by FCT(UID/01662/2020) through the Portuguese State Budget.