The Association between Dating Apps and Alcohol Consumption in an Italian Sample of Active Users, Former Users, and Non-Users

Dados Bibliográficos

ID5935201
AutoresLuca Flesia (0000-0003-0841-5174, University of Padua, autor correspondente), Valentina Fietta (0000-0001-8524-8432, University of Padua), Carlo Foresta (0000-0002-6576-2183, University of Padua), Merylin Monaro (0000-0001-5598-691X, University of Padua)
Ano2021
Volume10
Fascículo7
Páginas249
Data de publicação2021-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSocial Sciences (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760
EditoraMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/socsci10070249
OpenAlexW3176648124
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas41

To date, the relationship between alcohol use and dating app use has been investigated mostly in conjunction with sexual activities and in homosexual men. For this reason, the aim of this study was to explore the association between dating app use and alcohol consumption among the general population. A cross-sectional study was conducted including app users, non-users, and former users: 1278 respondents completed an online ad hoc questionnaire assessing dating app use, motivations for installing dating apps, alcohol use, and demographics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was run to investigate the association between dating app use, demographic features, and alcohol consumption. Whereas educational level, age, and gender significantly contributed to the regular consumption of alcohol, dating app use did not account for a significant amount of variance between regular and not regular drinkers. However, people who installed and used dating apps with the motivation of searching for sexual partners were more likely to be regular drinkers. Among the active users, heavy app users were less likely to drink regularly. The study indicates that underlying factors (sexual aspects, motives for using the apps) and the intensity of using the apps may mediate the relationship between dating app use and alcohol use

Alcohol · Alcohol consumption · Association (psychology · Demographics · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Population · Post hoc · Demography · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology