TY - JOUR
T1 - An Emerging Risk Factor of Sexual Abuse
T2 - The Use of Smartphone Dating Applications
AU - Choi, Edmond Pui Hang
AU - Wong, Janet Yuen Ha
AU - Fong, Daniel Yee Tak
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, © The Author(s) 2016.
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Smartphone dating applications (apps) have become popular in recent years. However, the association between the use of dating apps and sexual abuse remains uninvestigated. The aim of this study was to examine the association between using dating apps and the sexual abuse of males and females. Six hundred sixty-six participants were recruited in four universities in Hong Kong in 2015. Overall, the 1-year prevalence of sexual abuse was 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [9.8, 14.9]) and the lifetime prevalence was 14.2% (95% CI: [11.5, 16.9]). Multiple logistic regressions found that users of dating apps (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.13, p <.05) were more likely to be sexually abused in the past year than non-users. Using dating apps was also a risk factor of lifetime sexual abuse (aOR: 1.83, p <.05). Our findings suggest that app users should deserve more attention in risk assessment, risk stratification, and sexual abuse prevention programs.
AB - Smartphone dating applications (apps) have become popular in recent years. However, the association between the use of dating apps and sexual abuse remains uninvestigated. The aim of this study was to examine the association between using dating apps and the sexual abuse of males and females. Six hundred sixty-six participants were recruited in four universities in Hong Kong in 2015. Overall, the 1-year prevalence of sexual abuse was 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [9.8, 14.9]) and the lifetime prevalence was 14.2% (95% CI: [11.5, 16.9]). Multiple logistic regressions found that users of dating apps (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.13, p <.05) were more likely to be sexually abused in the past year than non-users. Using dating apps was also a risk factor of lifetime sexual abuse (aOR: 1.83, p <.05). Our findings suggest that app users should deserve more attention in risk assessment, risk stratification, and sexual abuse prevention programs.
KW - Internet
KW - abuse
KW - risk assessment
KW - sexual abuse
KW - sexual coercion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85018475978&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1079063216672168
DO - 10.1177/1079063216672168
M3 - Article
C2 - 27698090
AN - SCOPUS:85018475978
SN - 1079-0632
VL - 30
SP - 343
EP - 366
JO - Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment
JF - Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment
IS - 4
ER -
