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Dating App Facilitated Sexual Violence: The Prevalence and Mental Health Effects

University of Central Florida

STARS

Honors Undergraduate Theses, UCF Theses and Dissertations

Spring 2021

Samantha G. Echevarria

University of Central Florida

Video: UCF CAMPUS TOUR, University Of Central Florida

Recommended Citation Echevarria, Samantha G., “Dating App Facilitated Sexual Violence: The Prevalence and Mental Health Effects” (2021). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 926. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/926

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1. ABSTRACT
2. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
3. TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

Dating apps are in growing popularity, with 48% of dating app users in the United States being adults under 30 (Pew Research Center, 2020, Figure 5). While dating apps can provide a faster and easier way to meet or message a potential partner, they are also a relatively new platform to experience sexual violence. This thesis aims to explore the frequency of sexual violence experienced via dating apps as well as the specific effects this subtype of sexual violence has on the mental health of college students. Technology facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) includes unwanted sexual advances, sexual harassment, gender/sexuality-based abuse, sexual coercion, and rape that a person may experience due to technology that connected the victim to the perpetrator (Henry & Powell, 2018). While there is limited research on the physical and mental health effects of TFSV, past research includes all forms of technology. By focusing on dating apps, a widely used online platform, this research hopes to fill a gap in the research. The study conducted was of 230 college students at the University of Central Florida. Of all study participants, 144 reported current or past use of dating apps, and 88.8% of users reported at least one instance of sexual violence via dating apps. Overall, greater frequency of TFSV on dating apps was associated with more symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, greater loneliness, less perceived self-control, and lower self-esteem.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This thesis could not be completed without the guidance of my thesis chair Dr. Jacqueline Woerner. Thank you for all of your help, expertise, and motivation throughout this process. Your suggestions and insight were invaluable as I dove into my literature review and statistical analysis. You have been an amazing advisor and continue to support my research efforts.

I would also like to thank my thesis committee member Dr. Melanie Hinojosa for her encouragement in starting this project and in entering the research world of sociology. Since I became interested in research, you have offered me advice and opportunities. I appreciate all of your support and feedback during the completion of my thesis.

Additionally, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in reviewing my study’s survey and thank my friends who encouraged me along the way.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

• Dating App Use in Recent Years
• Technology Facilitated Sexual Violence
• How Online Forums Affect Mental Health
• Mental Health and Adult Sexual Violence
• Dating App User Safety

CHAPTER 2: METHODS

• Participants
• Procedures
• Measures
  • Demographics
  • Dating App Use
  • Sexual Violence
  • Mental Health Symptoms
    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Self-Esteem
    • Loneliness
    • Perceived Self-control

CHAPTER 3: RESULTS

• Dating App Use Experiences and Expectations
• Sexual Violence and How It Was Experienced
• Dating App Facilitated Sexual Violence and Mental Health
  • Sexual Violence on Dating Apps and PTSD
  • Sexual Violence on Dating Apps and Depression
  • Sexual Violence on Dating Apps and Anxiety
  • Sexual Violence on Dating Apps and Self-Esteem
  • Sexual Violence on Dating Apps and Loneliness
  • Sexual Violence on Dating Apps and Perceived Self-Control

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION

CHAPTER 5: STRENGTHS, LIMITATIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

• Implications for Future Research

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION

APPENDIX A: RESEARCH STUDY TABLES

APPENDIX B: DATING APP USE FIGURES

APPENDIX C: DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS

APPENDIX D: TECHNOLOGY FACILITATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE MEASURE

APPENDIX E: GENERAL SEXUAL VIOLENCE QUESTIONS

APPENDIX F: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER MEASURE

APPENDIX G: DEPRESSION MEASURE

APPENDIX H: ANXIETY MEASURE

APPENDIX I: SELF-ESTEEM MEASURE

APPENDIX J: LONELINESS MEASURE

APPENDIX K: PERCEIVED SELF-CONTROL MEASURE

APPENDIX L: MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES PROVIDED

APPENDIX M: IRB APPROVAL LETTER AND MODIFICATION

REFERENCES

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Percentage of Adults in the United States Who Have Used a Dating Website or App as of April 2020, By Gender

Figure 2: Percentage of Adults in the United States Who Use Bumble as of April 2020, By Age Group

Figure 3: Percentage of Adults in the United States Who Use Tinder as of April 2020, By Age Group

Figure 4: Most Popular Online Dating Apps in the United States as of September 2019, By Audience Size

Figure 5: Share of Adults in the United States Who Have Used Online Dating Sites or Apps as of October 2019, By Age

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Demographic Information

Table 2. Participants’ Dating App Use Information

Table 3. Bivariate Correlations and Descriptive Statistics

Table 4. Mental Health Scores Based on How Sexual Violence Occurred