Abstract
Although dating applications (apps) have become popular among young adults, there is a dearth of information regarding the sexual health implications among Brazilian college students. This study examined risky sexual behavior and attitudes of dating app users, based on their sex in Brazil’s Legal Amazon. Three hundred and fifty-nine students reported their sociodemographic data, dating app use, and sexual behaviors and attitudes through self-administered questionnaires. Bivariate analyses and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were performed. Dating app use was reported by 238 (66.3%) subjects, most of whom had an encounter and sex with a casual partner. Women frequently requested condom use. Trust in one’s partner or having repeated encounters were the main reasons for engaging in risky sexual behavior. Men had a greater number of sexual partners and less protective attitudes. Sexual health awareness by apps was not reported by 97% of women, and most of them were not tested for sexually transmitted infections. A positive attitude toward sexual health was not a predictor of safe sex. Important similarities and differences regarding risky sexual behaviors and attitudes were observed between the sexes, many of which correlated with increased sexual vulnerability during the sexual encounters arranged through the dating apps. This cross-sectional study supports efforts on sexual health promotion and sexual education implementation in the face of growing usage of apps among young adults for sexual matters.
Highlights
Technology has become an essential tool for education and social communication [1]
The objective of this study was to analyze risky sexual behavior and attitudes of dating app users, based on their sex, at a public university located in Palmas, Tocantins, in Brazil’s Legal Amazon
This study found risky sexual behaviors in college-aged app users
Summary
Technology has become an essential tool for education and social communication [1]. The advent of the Internet boosted interpersonal relationships, influenced by virtual rooms and visual and digital mobile communication. Students use educational technology as a means of transmitting knowledge, and mobile technology plays a role in the interactions of this population through rapid conversation feedback, social support, well-being, and encounters [2,3]. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 7494; doi:10.3390/ijerph17207494 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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