Utilization of Dating Apps by Men Who Have Sex with Men for Persuading Other Men Toward Substance Use

Overview

Journal Psychol Res Behav Manag

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2017 Feb 1

PMID 28138269

Citations 5

Authors

Smith Boonchutima

Watsayut Kongchan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Dating apps play a major role in connecting men who are interested in meeting other men for sex. Besides finding a partner, these tools are also exploited for other activities such as encouraging people to get involved in the habit of illicit drug consumption (substance use).

Methods: This study evaluated the overall usage of dating apps among Thai men who have sex with men (MSMs), with an emphasis on abusing these apps to convey messages encouraging substance use. A well-structured Survey Monkey questionnaire posted on specialized websites and social sites used by MSMs was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using regression and correlation analysis in order to establish the relationship between variables.

Results: A substantial proportion (73%) of the Thai MSM community is using dating apps to find their partners as well as for inviting others into illicit drug practice. Unfortunately, persuasion through dating significantly influenced people toward accepting a substance use invitation, with a 77% invitation success rate. Substance use was also linked with unprotected sex, potentially enhancing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

Conclusion: Dating apps significantly increased motivational substance use through messaging from their counterparts. One of the major concerns revealed in this study is that Thai MSMs who reported being involved in substance use also reported avoiding use of condoms during intercourse.

Citing Articles

Utilization of mental health services in relation to the intention to reduce chemsex behavior among clients from an integrated sexual health services center in Taiwan.

Hung Y, Chuang T, Chen T, Chung A, Wu M, Hsu S Harm Reduct J. 2023; 20(1):52.

PMID: 37062840 PMC: 10108506. DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00777-y.

Prevalence of sexualized drug use and risk of HIV among sexually active MSM in East and South Asian countries: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nevendorff L, Schroeder S, Pedrana A, Bourne A, Stoove M J Int AIDS Soc. 2023; 26(1):e26054.

PMID: 36600479 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26054.

Behind the Screens: A Systematic Literature Review of Quantitative Research on Mobile Dating.

Konings F, Sumter S, Vranken I, Dredge R, Vandenbosch L Arch Sex Behav. 2022; 51(6):2969-3020.

PMID: 35790613 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02312-9.

Threats to Mental Health Facilitated by Dating Applications Use Among Men Having Sex With Men.

Obarska K, Szymczak K, Lewczuk K, Gola M Front Psychiatry. 2020; 11:584548.

PMID: 33281645 PMC: 7691247. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.584548.

Dating Apps and Their Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Correlates: A Systematic Review.

Castro A, Barrada J Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(18).

PMID: 32906632 PMC: 7557852. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186500.

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