Adolescent Use of Dating Applications and the Associations with Online Victimization and Psychological Distress

Tzu-Fu Huang; Chun-Yin Hou; Fong-Ching Chang; Chiung-Hui Chiu; Ping-Hung Chen; Jeng-Tung Chiang; Nae-Fang Miao; Hung-Yi Chuang; Yen-Jung Chang; Hsi Chang; Hsueh-Chih Chen

doi:10.3390/bs13110903

Behavioral Sciences (Nov 2023)

Adolescent Use of Dating Applications and the Associations with Online Victimization and Psychological Distress

Tzu-Fu Huang,
Chun-Yin Hou,
Fong-Ching Chang,
Chiung-Hui Chiu,
Ping-Hung Chen,
Jeng-Tung Chiang,
Nae-Fang Miao,
Hung-Yi Chuang,
Yen-Jung Chang,
Hsi Chang,
Hsueh-Chih Chen

Affiliations

Tzu-Fu Huang: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
Chun-Yin Hou: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
Fong-Ching Chang: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
Chiung-Hui Chiu: Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
Ping-Hung Chen: The Graduate Institute of Mass Communication, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
Jeng-Tung Chiang: Department of Statistics, National Chengchi University, Taipei 11605, Taiwan
Nae-Fang Miao: Post-Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Hung-Yi Chuang: Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Yen-Jung Chang: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan
Hsi Chang: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Hsueh-Chih Chen: Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, College of Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 10610, Taiwan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110903
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 11
p. 903

Abstract

Read online

In this study, we examined the relationships between the use of online dating applications (apps), online victimization, and psychosocial distress among adolescents. This study was conducted in 2020. A sample of 2595 seventh-grade students from 30 Taiwanese middle schools was surveyed. We conducted a self-administered survey. Overall, 15% of the adolescents reported using online dating apps in the past year, while 78% reported having seen dating app advertisements on the internet in the past year. Multivariate analysis results indicated that adolescents’ exposure to the marketing of dating apps and poor academic performance were both associated with the use of online dating apps. Adolescents who used dating apps were more likely to experience online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment. The use of dating apps by adolescents, online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. In conclusion, adolescent use of dating apps is related to online victimization and psychological distress.

Published in Behavioral Sciences

ISSN: 2076-328X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/behavsci

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords