Chlamydia Infection Among Digital Daters and Nondigital Daters

Abstract

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate whether the use of dating apps is a risk factor for acquiring Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections. Methods Patients attending the drop-in facility at the STI clinic at Umeå University Hospital between April 2016 and November 2017 were asked to fill in a survey about their sexual preferences and behaviors, including dating app use. Results Of 943 participants, 80 (8.5%) received a CT diagnosis (34 women and 46 men). Dating app users did not seem to have an increased risk of CT infection. Having 3 or more sex partners within the last year was a risk factor for CT only among those not using a dating app. Alcohol use before sex and unprotected sex with a new partner were risk factors for CT infection in the univariate but not in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions Dating app users did not seem to have an increased risk of acquiring CT and for dating app users the seemingly well-established risk factor of having many partners was not valid.

The Association between Dating Apps and Alcohol Consumption in an Italian Sample of Active Users, Former Users, and Non-Users

“…On the contrary, Choi et al (2017) did not identify any association between dating app use and alcohol consumption in conjunction with sexual intercourse among Chinese university students. Andersson et al (2019) obtained similar results. These inconsistencies among studies could be explained by the intervention of mediating variables (e.g., gender, age, socio-cultural differences) which differ from a sample to another.…”

“What Are You Looking For?” Investigating the Association Between Dating App Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors

“…However, the first sampled only the MSM population; 15 the second only investigated the relationship between chlamydia infections and dating app use. 13 Finally, the role of motives for using the apps might also account for the inconsistencies in the previous studies' results. Indeed, people who use the apps have a wide range of motives and differences in motives for using the apps are associated with differences in behavioral patterns.…”

“…9−11 Finally, data regarding the association between STIs and dating app use were inconsistent as well. 7,12,13 Differences in the composition of the research samples may account for discrepancies among results: socio-demographic factors (eg, age, gender, sexual orientation) may influence the relation between dating app use and sexual behaviors. In this regard, the literature indicates that being younger, having a non-heterosexual orientation, and being male are risk factors for unsafe sexual behaviors.…”

“… 9 , 10 , 11 Finally, data regarding the association between STIs and dating app use were inconsistent as well. 7 , 12 , 13 …”

“…However, the first sampled only the MSM population; 15 the second only investigated the relationship between chlamydia infections and dating app use. 13 …”