Dating Application Use Among Female Youths and the Risks of Acquiring Sexually Transmitted Infections

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate sexual risk behaviours associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among women aged 18–25 years who use dating applications.

Materials and Methods: A voluntary, self-administered survey was conducted among females aged 18–25 years who were sexually active within the past 6 months and had prior experience using dating applications. Participants were recruited via printed and online posters distributed to educational institutions in Thailand. A total of 400 responses were collected through Google Forms and screened for completeness. Consecutive respondents with fully completed questionnaires were included in the analysis. The required sample size was 289.

Results: The mean age was 23.9 ± 0.7 years, and the mean age at first sexual intercourse was 18.0 ± 0.7 years. The most commonly used application was Tinder (99.7%), followed by Bumble (95.8%). Reasons for use included passing time (97.2%), seeking relationships (41.9%), curiosity (33.2%), and sexual intercourse (26.0%). Most participants (98.6%) reported having sexual intercourse with partners met through dating applications. Consistent condom use was reported by only 11.1%. The number of lifetime sexual partners ranged from 2 to 9, with 0–5 partners met via applications. In the past 3 months, 84.4% reported new sexual partners. STI screening was reported by 66.1%, most commonly for HIV.

Conclusion: Female dating application users aged ≤ 25 years demonstrate high-risk sexual behaviors, including frequent partner change and low condom use. Targeted sexual health education and preventive strategies are strongly recommended.