Dating Applications, Sexual Behaviors, and Attitudes of College Students in Brazil’s Legal Amazon

Maycon Klerystton B. Tavares, Romulo L. P. de Melo, Bianca F. da Rocha, Débora J. Andrade, Danielle R. Evangelista, Márcia C. T. S. Peres, Leonardo R. Baldaçara, Thiago DeSouza-Vieira, Elisangela V. Assis and José Bruno N. F. Silva
Additional contact information
Maycon Klerystton B. Tavares: Medicine Course, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77001-923 Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil
Romulo L. P. de Melo: Psychology Course, Faculdade Santa Maria, 589000-000 Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brazil
Bianca F. da Rocha: Medicine Course, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77001-923 Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil
Débora J. Andrade: Medicine Course, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77001-923 Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil
Danielle R. Evangelista: Nurse Course, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77001-923 Palmas, Brazil
Márcia C. T. S. Peres: Medicine Course, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77001-923 Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil
Leonardo R. Baldaçara: Medicine Course, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77001-923 Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil
Thiago DeSouza-Vieira: Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
Elisangela V. Assis: Medicine Course, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, 58900-000 Cajazeiras, Paraíba, Brazil
José Bruno N. F. Silva: Medicine Course, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, 77001-923 Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-10

Abstract: Although dating applications (apps) have become popular among young adults, there is a dearth of information regarding the sexual health implications among Brazilian college students. This study examined risky sexual behavior and attitudes of dating app users, based on their sex in Brazil’s Legal Amazon. Three hundred and fifty-nine students reported their sociodemographic data, dating app use, and sexual behaviors and attitudes through self-administered questionnaires. Bivariate analyses and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were performed. Dating app use was reported by 238 (66.3%) subjects, most of whom had an encounter and sex with a casual partner. Women frequently requested condom use. Trust in one’s partner or having repeated encounters were the main reasons for engaging in risky sexual behavior. Men had a greater number of sexual partners and less protective attitudes. Sexual health awareness by apps was not reported by 97% of women, and most of them were not tested for sexually transmitted infections. A positive attitude toward sexual health was not a predictor of safe sex. Important similarities and differences regarding risky sexual behaviors and attitudes were observed between the sexes, many of which correlated with increased sexual vulnerability during the sexual encounters arranged through the dating apps. This cross-sectional study supports efforts on sexual health promotion and sexual education implementation in the face of growing usage of apps among young adults for sexual matters.

Keywords: dating apps; sexual behaviors; attitude; college students; sexual health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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