Which factors are linked to dating app use for sexual hookups?

Several factors, such as male sex, substance and alcohol use, and same-sex or bisexual attraction, contribute to the use of dating apps, but no increase in sexual frequency is associated with dating app utilization, suggests a US study.

The authors used cross-sectional data from the 2017–2019 National Survey of Family Growth to identify the sociodemographic determinants affecting the use of dating apps to find partners for sexual intercourse. They assessed these associations using survey-weighted regression models, with additional sensitivity analyses performed within specific subgroups. In addition, the association between dating app use and sexual frequency was examined.

Overall, 11,225 individuals completed the survey. Of the respondents, 757 (6.7 percent) reported using a dating app for sexual hookups.

Regression analysis revealed the following determinants of dating app use: male sex, White race, previous sexual experience, substance and alcohol use, history of sexually transmitted infections, same-sex attractions, and bisexuality. In contrast, Catholics, Protestants, married/widowed individuals, and older respondents were less likely to use a dating app.

These trends persisted in stratified analyses across various demographics, including male and female individuals aged 20 to 40 years, heterosexual, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual respondents.

However, dating app utilization did not necessarily lead to increased frequency of sexual encounters (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.10, 95 percent confidence interval, 0.96–1.26; p=0.16).

“Further research is essential for integrating these technologies into the relational and sexual dynamics of individuals,” the authors said.