The association between smartphone dating applications and college students' casual sex encounters and condom use

- We reported casual sex and condom use among college students.
- We found that using dating apps is an emerging sexual risk.
- Using dating apps was associated with unprotected sex with a casual sex partner.
- Interventions about safe sex should be targeted to dating app users.

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the association between using smartphone dating applications (apps) and having unprotected sex with a casual sex partner.Study designThis is a cross-sectional study. Students were recruited from four university campuses in Hong Kong by convenience sampling.Main outcome measuresSubjects completed a structured questionnaire asking about the use of dating apps, sexual history and socio-demographic information. Multiple logistic regressions were used to explore the association between using dating apps and having unprotected sex with a casual sex partner.ResultsSix hundred and sixty-six subjects were included in the analysis. Users of dating apps were more likely to have had unprotected sex with a casual sex partner the last time they engaged in sexual intercourse (aOR: 10.06). Using dating apps for more than 12 months was associated with having a casual sex partner in the last sexual intercourse (aOR: 3.21), as well as having unprotected sex with that casual partner (aOR: 13.56).ConclusionWe found a robust association between using dating apps and having unprotected sex with a casual sex partner, implying that using dating apps is an emerging sexual risk factor. We recommend that interventions promoting the safe use of dating apps should be implemented.