title: Psychiatric disorders, suicidal ideation, and sexually transmitted infections among post-deployment veterans who utilize digital social media for sexual partner seeking.
abstract: Digital social media platforms represent outlets through which individuals may find partners for sexual encounters. Using a sample of US post-deployment military veterans, the current study evaluated the prevalence of digital sex seeking as well as clinical correlates of psychopathology, suicidal ideation, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
  
  
  
  Using data from a baseline telephone interview and follow-up internet-based survey, we examined the prevalence of sexual partnering via digital social media platforms in a national sample of 283 US combat veterans.
  
  
  
  Among veterans, 35.5% of men and 8.5% of women reported having used digital social media to meet someone for sex. Individuals who reported having used digital social media to find sexual partners (DSMSP+) as compared to those who did not (DSMSP-) were more likely to be young, male, and in the Marine Corps. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, DSMSP+ status was associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (OR=2.26, p=0.01), insomnia (OR=1.99, p=0.02), depression (OR=1.95, p=0.03), hypersexuality (OR=6.16, p<0.001), suicidal ideation (OR=3.24, p=0.04), and treatment for an STI (OR=1.98, p=0.04).
  
  
  
  Among US post-deployment military veterans, DSMSP+ behaviors were prevalent, particularly among men. The association between DSMSP+ behaviors and PTSD, insomnia, depression, hypersexuality, suicidal ideation, and STIs suggest that veterans who engage in DSMSP+ behaviors should be particularly thoroughly screened and evaluated for these psychiatric concerns and counseled on the benefits of safe sexual practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jack L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Turban
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Child Study Center and the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Marc N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; VISN1 New England MIRECC, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Rani A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; VISN1 New England MIRECC, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: VISN1 New England MIRECC, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address: shane.kraus@va.gov.
authors.forename: Shane W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Digital social media; Psychiatric disorders; Risky sexual behavior; Sexual partners; Veterans