Hypersexual Behavior and Depression Symptoms among Dating App Users

Giacomo Ciocca; Lilybeth Fontanesi; Antonella Robilotta; Erika Limoncin; Filippo Maria Nimbi; Daniele Mollaioli; Andrea Sansone; Elena Colonnello; Chiara Simonelli; Giorgio Di Lorenzo; Emmanuele A. Jannini

doi:10.3390/sexes3020023

Sexes (Jun 2022)

Hypersexual Behavior and Depression Symptoms among Dating App Users

Giacomo Ciocca,
Lilybeth Fontanesi,
Antonella Robilotta,
Erika Limoncin,
Filippo Maria Nimbi,
Daniele Mollaioli,
Andrea Sansone,
Elena Colonnello,
Chiara Simonelli,
Giorgio Di Lorenzo,
Emmanuele A. Jannini

Affiliations

Giacomo Ciocca: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Lilybeth Fontanesi: Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Antonella Robilotta: Department of Human Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Erika Limoncin: Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Filippo Maria Nimbi: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Daniele Mollaioli: Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Andrea Sansone: Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Elena Colonnello: Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Chiara Simonelli: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giorgio Di Lorenzo: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Emmanuele A. Jannini: Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes3020023
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 2
pp. 298 – 307

Abstract

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The use of Dating Applications (DAs) is widespread, and in some cases could be associated with psychosexological issues. Hence, we decided to investigate hypersexual behavior and depression symptoms among DA users and non-users. We recruited a snowball convenience sample of 1000 subjects through an online platform in 2020 for a cross-sectional study. One hundred and nineteen (11.9%) were classified as DA users and 881 as non-users. All subjects completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI), to assess hypersexuality, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to evaluate depression symptoms. We primarily found higher levels of hypersexual behavior and depression symptoms in DA users compared to non-users. In particular, HBI Total (users = 42.27 ± 16.37 vs. non-users = 31.85 ± 12.06; p p p p p < 0.0001). On the whole, we found that hypersexual behavior and depression symptoms strongly characterize DAs users; this evidence could represent an important associated factor in DA use for sexual purposes.

Published in Sexes

ISSN: 2411-5118 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology; Education: Special aspects of education; Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sexes

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