College students who use dating apps are more likely to engage in risky sex They are 2.2 times more likely to have had more than one sexual partner They also are 1.4 times more likely to have had sex under the influence of alcohol and 1.
3 times more likely to have contracted an STD FRIDAY, Nov. 15, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- College students who use dating apps are more likely to engage in risky sex, endangering their health, a new study shows. Those using a dating app were 2.
2 times to have had more than one sexual partner over the past year, and 1.4 times more likely to have had sex while under the influence of alcohol, researchers found. Dating app users were also 1.
8 times more likely to have undergone screening for HIV or other STDs, and 1.3 times more likely to have tested positive for an STD, results published Nov. 15 in the journal showed.
However, it’s hard to say in which direction this relationship runs, said lead researcher , an assistant professor of nursing and health innovation with the University of Texas at Arlington. “Causality between risky sexual behaviors and dating app use likely flows both ways,” Reeves said in a journal news release. “Dating apps make it easier to find casual partners, which can lead to risky behaviors like inconsistent condom use,” Reeves explained.
“Conversely, individuals already engaging in risky behaviors may turn to dating apps for partners who share similar practices.” An ongoing epidemic of STDs in the United States.