title: An Emerging Risk Factor of Sexual Abuse: The Use of Smartphone Dating Applications.
abstract: Smartphone dating applications (apps) have become popular in recent years. However, the association between the use of dating apps and sexual abuse remains uninvestigated. The aim of this study was to examine the association between using dating apps and the sexual abuse of males and females. Six hundred sixty-six participants were recruited in four universities in Hong Kong in 2015. Overall, the 1-year prevalence of sexual abuse was 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [9.8, 14.9]) and the lifetime prevalence was 14.2% (95% CI: [11.5, 16.9]). Multiple logistic regressions found that users of dating apps (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.13, p < .05) were more likely to be sexually abused in the past year than non-users. Using dating apps was also a risk factor of lifetime sexual abuse (aOR: 1.83, p < .05). Our findings suggest that app users should deserve more attention in risk assessment, risk stratification, and sexual abuse prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.|2 Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Edmond Pui Hang
authors.initials: EPH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Janet Yuen Ha
authors.initials: JYH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Daniel Yee Tak
authors.initials: DYT
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003068:Coercion; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000068997:Smartphone; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Internet; abuse; risk assessment; sexual abuse; sexual coercion