Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students
Abstract Objective One of the most popular ways to meet new people in the modern world is through dating apps. However, their use may facilitate casual sexual encounters and quick partner changes, both of which are associated with endangering sexual health in different populations. The objective of...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Associação de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do Sul
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2237-60892025000100508&lng=en&tlng=en |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849717730332114944 |
|---|---|
| author | Edson Zangiacomi Martinez Vitoria de Souza Pinto Frazatto Jonathan Leonardo Gonçalves Prudencio Guilherme Galdino Miriane Lucindo Zucoloto |
| author_facet | Edson Zangiacomi Martinez Vitoria de Souza Pinto Frazatto Jonathan Leonardo Gonçalves Prudencio Guilherme Galdino Miriane Lucindo Zucoloto |
| author_sort | Edson Zangiacomi Martinez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective One of the most popular ways to meet new people in the modern world is through dating apps. However, their use may facilitate casual sexual encounters and quick partner changes, both of which are associated with endangering sexual health in different populations. The objective of this study is to describe the use of mobile dating apps among undergraduate students at a major Brazilian public university and investigate its associations with sexual risk behaviors and sociodemographic factors. Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on a web survey. The link for participation was made available to students enrolled in undergraduate courses at the eight units of Universidade de São Paulo, Campus Ribeirão Preto. Use of dating apps, sociodemographic/behavioral profile, and sexual risk behaviors were among the variables studied. The distribution of app users was calculated for each variable of interest, and prevalence ratios (PRs) were used for comparisons. PRs were reported with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results A total of 487 students participated, with 32.9% reporting using dating apps. Male participants were more likely to use apps. Use of dating apps was associated with having multiple sexual partners and risky behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse. Conclusion It is critical to describe the pattern of app use by undergraduate students and understand its influence on sexual health in order to avoid stigmatizing users. Additionally, this information can be helpful to guide the creation of strategies for using these apps as resources to promote health, such as through sharing information regarding sexual health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f3a0dbe1f364c13aea8f300dfb6f4d7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2238-0019 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Associação de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do Sul |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f3a0dbe1f364c13aea8f300dfb6f4d72025-08-20T03:12:35ZengAssociação de Psiquiatria do Rio Grande do SulTrends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy2238-00192025-05-014710.47626/2237-6089-2023-0746Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate studentsEdson Zangiacomi Martinezhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0949-3222Vitoria de Souza Pinto Frazattohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2827-1972Jonathan Leonardo Gonçalves Prudenciohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2672-929XGuilherme Galdinohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7637-2340Miriane Lucindo Zucolotohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4745-227XAbstract Objective One of the most popular ways to meet new people in the modern world is through dating apps. However, their use may facilitate casual sexual encounters and quick partner changes, both of which are associated with endangering sexual health in different populations. The objective of this study is to describe the use of mobile dating apps among undergraduate students at a major Brazilian public university and investigate its associations with sexual risk behaviors and sociodemographic factors. Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on a web survey. The link for participation was made available to students enrolled in undergraduate courses at the eight units of Universidade de São Paulo, Campus Ribeirão Preto. Use of dating apps, sociodemographic/behavioral profile, and sexual risk behaviors were among the variables studied. The distribution of app users was calculated for each variable of interest, and prevalence ratios (PRs) were used for comparisons. PRs were reported with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results A total of 487 students participated, with 32.9% reporting using dating apps. Male participants were more likely to use apps. Use of dating apps was associated with having multiple sexual partners and risky behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse. Conclusion It is critical to describe the pattern of app use by undergraduate students and understand its influence on sexual health in order to avoid stigmatizing users. Additionally, this information can be helpful to guide the creation of strategies for using these apps as resources to promote health, such as through sharing information regarding sexual health.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2237-60892025000100508&lng=en&tlng=enSexual behaviormobile applicationsstudentshealth promotion |
| spellingShingle | Edson Zangiacomi Martinez Vitoria de Souza Pinto Frazatto Jonathan Leonardo Gonçalves Prudencio Guilherme Galdino Miriane Lucindo Zucoloto Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Sexual behavior mobile applications students health promotion |
| title | Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students |
| title_full | Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students |
| title_fullStr | Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students |
| title_short | Mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students |
| title_sort | mobile dating app use and sexual risk behavior among brazilian undergraduate students |
| topic | Sexual behavior mobile applications students health promotion |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2237-60892025000100508&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT edsonzangiacomimartinez mobiledatingappuseandsexualriskbehavioramongbrazilianundergraduatestudents AT vitoriadesouzapintofrazatto mobiledatingappuseandsexualriskbehavioramongbrazilianundergraduatestudents AT jonathanleonardogoncalvesprudencio mobiledatingappuseandsexualriskbehavioramongbrazilianundergraduatestudents AT guilhermegaldino mobiledatingappuseandsexualriskbehavioramongbrazilianundergraduatestudents AT mirianelucindozucoloto mobiledatingappuseandsexualriskbehavioramongbrazilianundergraduatestudents |