title: The association between smartphone dating applications and college students' casual sex encounters and condom use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to explore the association between using smartphone dating applications (apps) and having unprotected sex with a casual sex partner.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study. Students were recruited from four university campuses in Hong Kong by convenience sampling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six 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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: h0714919@connect.hku.hk.
authors.forename: Edmond P H
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Janet Y H
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Herman H M
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine and School of Chinese Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Counselling & Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jasmine H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chio
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Daniel Y T
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003380:Courtship; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D000068997:Smartphone; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D047568:Unsafe Sex
keywords: Casual sex; Condom; Dating; HIV; Mobile phone