The Relationship between Drug Consumption and Dating App Use: Results from an Italian Survey

Luca Flesia, Valentina Fietta, Carlo Foresta and Merylin Monaro
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Luca Flesia: Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Valentina Fietta: Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
Carlo Foresta: Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Merylin Monaro: Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy

Social Sciences, 2021, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: To date, the literature regarding the relationship between drug consumption and dating app use is still very scant and inconclusive. The present study was thus aimed at investigating the association between drug consumption and dating app use in the general population. A total of 1278 Italian respondents completed an online ad hoc questionnaire assessing drug consumption (cannabis versus other illicit drugs), dating app use, the primary motive for installing dating apps, and demographics. Multiple logistic regression analyses were run to investigate the role of demographics and dating app use on drug consumption. Being single predicted cannabis use. Using dating apps accounted for higher odds of cannabis use; however, people who intensely used the apps were less likely to consume marijuana. Conversely, dating app use was not associated with the consumption of other drugs. This study suggests the presence of common underlying factors between dating app use and cannabis use, and it highlights the mediating role of the intensity of app use. Conversely, the study suggests that dating app use and the use of other drugs are quite independent behaviors.

Keywords: cannabis; marijuana; illicit drugs; geosocial networking apps; mobile dating applications; motives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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