Mobile dating apps use and sexual risk behavior among Brazilian undergraduate students.

INTRODUCTION: One of the most popular ways to meet new people in the modern world is through dating apps. However, its use may facilitate casual sexual encounters and quick partner changes, both of which associated to endangering sexual health in different populations. OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of mobile dating apps among undergraduate students at a major Brazilian public university and investigate its associations with sexual risk behaviors and sociodemographic factors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study based on a web survey. The link for participation was made available to students enrolled in undergraduate courses in the eight units of the University of São Paulo, Campus Ribeirão Preto. Use of dating apps, sociodemographic/behavioral profile, and sexual risk behaviors were among the variables studied. The distribution of apps users was calculated for each variable of interest, and prevalence ratios (PRs) were used for comparisons. PRs were reported with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 487 students participated, with 32.9% reporting using dating apps. Male participants were more likely to use. The use of dating apps was associated with having multiple sexual partners and risky behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse. CONCLUSION: It is critical to describe the pattern of app use in undergraduate students and understand their influence on sexual health in order to avoid stigmatizing users. Additionally, this information can be helpful in directing the creation of strategies for using these apps as resources to promote health, such as the information-sharing regarding the sexual health.

Portuguese version of the Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale and psychometric properties among undergraduate students.

The condom use can be influenced by psychological and sociocultural aspects, which can be modulated by individual's attitudes. The aim was to propose a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale (Short-Form CAS), describing all procedures of translation, transcultural adaptation, and psychometric properties evaluation when applied to undergraduate students. A cross sectional study was conducted among students enrolled at University of São Paulo (USP), Campus Ribeirão Preto (n = 491; 61.2% female; average age: 22 years; standard deviation: four years). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. A one-factor model with seven items exhibited good factorial validity and reliability, suggesting to be a better factorial solution of the Short-Form CAS in the sample. Few studies have been carried out on the behavioral factors associated with condom use in key populations, which can be exacerbated by a lack of appropriate scales. Therefore, the main contribution of the present study was to propose a simplified and transculturally adapted version of the Short-form CAS with some psychometric properties verified. Since the use of condoms is a component of the study of sexual risk behavior, this scale might be an option to be applied in various Brazilian population segments for this purpose.

Portuguese version of the Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale and psychometric properties among undergraduate students / Versão em português da Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale e propriedades psicométricas entre estudantes universitários

Abstract The condom use can be influenced by psychological and sociocultural aspects, which can be modulated by individual's attitudes. The aim was to propose a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale (Short-Form CAS), describing all procedures of translation, transcultural adaptation, and psychometric properties evaluation when applied to undergraduate students. A cross sectional study was conducted among students enrolled at University of São Paulo (USP), Campus Ribeirão Preto (n = 491; 61.2% female; average age: 22 years; standard deviation: four years). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. A one-factor model with seven items exhibited good factorial validity and reliability, suggesting to be a better factorial solution of the Short-Form CAS in the sample. Few studies have been carried out on the behavioral factors associated with condom use in key populations, which can be exacerbated by a lack of appropriate scales. Therefore, the main contribution of the present study was to propose a simplified and transculturally adapted version of the Short-form CAS with some psychometric properties verified. Since the use of condoms is a component of the study of sexual risk behavior, this scale might be an option to be applied in various Brazilian population segments for this purpose.

Resumo O uso de preservativos pode ser influenciado por aspectos psicológicos e socioculturais, que podem ser modulados por atitudes individuais. O objetivo foi propor uma versão em português brasileiro da Short-Form Condom Attitude Scale (Short-Form CAS), descrevendo os procedimentos de tradução, adaptação transcultural e avaliação das propriedades psicométricas em uma amostra de universitários. Trata-se de estudo transversal com estudantes matriculados na Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Campus Ribeirão Preto (n = 491; 61,2% feminino; média de idade: 22 anos; desvio-padrão: quatro anos). Foi realizada análise fatorial confirmatória. O modelo unifatorial com sete itens apresentou boa validade fatorial e confiabilidade, sugerindo ser a melhor solução fatorial para a Short-Form CAS. Há poucos estudos sobre os fatores comportamentais associados ao uso de preservativos em populações-chave, o que pode ser influenciado pela falta de instrumentos. A principal contribuição deste estudo foi propor uma versão simples e adaptada transculturalmente da Short-Form CAS com algumas propriedades psicométricas verificadas. Uma vez que o uso de preservativos é um componente do comportamento sexual de risco, a escala se apresenta como uma nova opção para futuros estudos na população brasileira.