A narrative review of motivations for dating app use and associated sexual behaviors: Recommendations to promote safe sex among Indian dating app users

George, Prathyasha; Chittem, Mahati; Lewis-Smith, Helena; Epton, Tracy

Abstract

India is witnessing a rapid increase in the use of dating apps such as Tinder, which provide heterosexual individuals with access to many potential sexual partners, thereby increasing their propensity to engage in risky sexual behaviours. Adopting a psychological perspective, this narrative review begins by drawing on existing literature on motivations and sexual behaviours relating to dating app use. Following this, the self-affirmation theory is posited to understand risky sexual behaviours within the context of dating app use. Finally, this review suggests promoting safe sex behaviours for Indian dating app users, self-affirmation interventions to promote body positivity and condom use, and disseminating health-promoting safe sex messages within the dating app.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jan 31, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 31, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 3, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 3, 2021
• Journal: Media Watch
• Print ISSN: 0976-0911
• Electronic ISSN: 2249-8818
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 109-126
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.15655/mw/2021/v12i1/205462
• Keywords: Communication
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7163676